The difference between a typhoon and a hurricane is primarily geographic. Both are types of tropical cyclones, which are powerful storm systems that form over warm ocean waters with strong rotating winds and rain.
- A hurricane forms in the Atlantic Ocean and the Northeast Pacific Ocean.
- A typhoon forms in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, including areas like the Philippines and East Asia.
Structurally and meteorologically, hurricanes and typhoons are essentially the same type of storm, with the same mechanisms, intensity scales, and potential for destruction. The name changes just based on where the storm occurs globally. Tropical cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean are generally called cyclones. This naming distinction helps in regional weather reporting and preparedness but does not signify differences in the storm’s nature.
