The difference between a typhoon and a hurricane lies mainly in their geographic location. Both are the same type of storm, known generically as tropical cyclones.
- A hurricane forms in the Atlantic Ocean and the Northeast Pacific Ocean.
- A typhoon forms in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
Besides the different names based on location, they share the same characteristics: both are powerful tropical storms with strong rotating winds, heavy rain, and potential for severe damage. They are categorized by wind speed, starting from tropical depressions to tropical storms, and finally to hurricanes or typhoons once winds reach at least 74 miles per hour (or 119 kilometers per hour).
