Widespread tropical cyclone activity during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age

Whether tropical cyclone (TC) activity prevailed during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA)-the longest icehouse of the Phanerozoic-remains debated, owing to the paucity and ambiguity of sedimentary evidence. To help resolve this conflict, we combine a global compilation of 126 storm records spanning the LPIA ( similar to 360-260 Ma) with high-resolution (similar to 25-km) TC-resolving simulations. We reveal a quasi-symmetric meridional distribution of TC genesis across the tropics during the LPIA, with TC tracks extending into high latitudes (>60 degrees N/degrees S). This pattern aligns with the compiled widespread storm deposits from subtropical and tropical regions. During CO2-driven glacial-interglacial transitions within the LPIA, we observe reduced global TC frequency and enhanced intensity, coinciding with poleward shifts in TC activity. The shifts are linked to spatially heterogeneous warming patterns and associated changes in atmospheric circulation. Our results help reconcile controversies regarding icehouse TC behavior and highlight that warming-induced poleward migration of TC activity is likely a climate state-independent characteristic of the Earth system.