Tropical cyclone? Wrong body of water. Tropical cyclones appear in he Western Pacific Ocean. It would become a hurricane because of where it started. The correct general term would be a circular storm.
Tell that to forecaster Bevin since that is his report, straight from the NHC. Methinks you'll lose that argument.
The terms "hurricane" and "typhoon" are regionally specific names for a strong "tropical cyclone". A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure system over tropical or sub-tropical waters with organized convection (i.e. thunderstorm activity) and definite cyclonic surface wind circulation (Holland 1993).