Weatherwatch: what is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

Both are cyclones, or circular storms, but they form in distinct places and vary in terms of scale and impactCyclones are circular storms. Those that form in the Atlantic are called hurricanes while those in the Pacific are typhoons. They are essentially similar, but the difference between the areas where they form makes them different in scale and impact.Typhoons tend to be larger because of the vast size of the Pacific. The two have similar wind speeds but are reported differently. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir Simpson scale, with a five indicating sustained winds of more than 157 mph (253 km/h). There is no equivalent international scale for Pacific cyclones, but various scales exist with categories such as "typhoon" for wind speeds of 74-114 mph and "super typhoon" for those with winds above 115 mph. Continue reading...