Was the storm in The Cay by Theodore Taylor a hurricane or tornado?

In The Cay by Theodore Taylor, when Timothy and Phillip had been on the island for a few months, one day they were out gathering calico scallops, and they heard a noise that sounded like a gunshot. Phillip asked Timothy what it was, and Timothy told him that it was the sea making that noise, and it was bad news. It meant that a big storm was coming and they needed to get prepared. Timothy described the sky to Phillip as having a yellowish tint to it. He also tied the water keg up high in a tree and told Phillip what to do if the storm reached them. By the time the sun set, the sky was red with high clouds beginning to appear. The storm reached them after dark.

"Then the wind began to blow steadily, and Timothy went out of the hut to look up at the sky. He shouted, 'Dey boilin' ovah now, Phill-eep. 'Tis hurrican', to be sure'" (Taylor 106).

The island was hit by a hurricane.