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Difference between Hurricane and Typhoon

Difference between Hurricane and Typhoon

What is the difference between hurricane and typhoon? To know this answer, stay tuned in our article which will explain you about both of terms deeply.

Hurricane and typhoon both are destructive phenomenon of the nature. The term hurricane is used when the storm occurs in the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, or the central and northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean whereas term typhoon is used to describe the storms of the northwest Pacific Ocean. Both are tropical cyclones but differ in locations.

To know the terms better let’s go in the details of each individually.

Hurricane

Hurricanes are storms in the North Atlantic Ocean, central North Pacific Ocean, and eastern North Pacific Ocean. North America, Europe, South America and Central America are affected. As hurricane is a natural phenomenon and can happen anytime in any season but its occurrence sometimes depends on the body of water.

The hurricane season in the Atlantic and central Pacific Oceans runs from June to November. The most affected area by hurricane is Caribbean Sea. Occurrence is usually in warm areas.

Typhoon

Typhoons are storms in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is also a natural destructive phenomenon. Typhoons are a specific type of storm that forms over large bodies of water. Gathering around a low point of atmospheric pressure, the storms are large masses of air.

Typhoon’s origins are complicated with possible roots in Persian, Arabic, and Chinese words that referred to strong storms. The most affected area by typhoons is South East Asia, China Sea etc. It usually occurs in warm areas.

Here’s what you need to know about the difference between hurricanes and typhoons.

Frequency

The frequency of hurricane ranges 10-15 per year while the frequency of typhoons ranges from 25-30 per year.

Location

Hurricanes are storms in the North Atlantic Ocean, central North Pacific Ocean, and eastern North Pacific Ocean while typhoons are storms in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

Most Affected Areas

The most affected area by hurricane is Caribbean Sea whereas the most affected area by typhoons is South East Asia, China Sea etc.

Intensity

Hurricanes are classified into 5 categories according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and intensity differs as the category increases 1 to 5 whereas Typhoons are generally very strong because of the Pacific’s warm water