What is the difference between hurricanes and typhoons?

Answer 1

They are essentially the same; tropical cyclones. The "west" uses the term hurricane, while the "east" uses typhoon.

Answer 2

A hurricane/typhoon is when wind speeds in a tropical cyclone reach 118 km/h+ (73 mph, 64 kts, 33 m/s)

In the NW Pacific Ocean, they are called typhoons. They typically affect Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, the Phillippines, etc.

In the NE Pacific/C. Pacific/Atlantic Oceans, they are called hurricanes. They usually hit the southern part of N. America.

Rarely, a hurricane will cross the International Date Line from the Central Pacific and its name will be changed from Hurricane X to Typhoon X. However, it's rare because conditions in the Central Pacific are not good for sustaining hurricanes. One recent example is Hurricane/Typhoon Ioke.

Answer 3

It's basically same. However, typhoons in the western pacific are generally stronger than hurricanes in the Atlantic. (not always) Also, whenever a typhoon gets a wind speed over 150 kts they call it a super-typhoon. They don't do that for hurricanes. A major hurricane is a cat 3 which is a wind speed of 96 kts or greater.

Answer 4

They are basically the same, only in a diffrent location.
Hurricanes are in the Atlantic Ocean and Typhoons are in the Pacific Ocean.

Answer 5

Hurricanes are in the Atlantic.

Typhoons in the Pacific.

Answer 6

There is no difference between the two. It just depends upon what part of the country they're in.

Answer 7

There is no difference, both are regional names for cyclonic storms which are generated over water.

Answer 8

Their names are much different that they are cyclone storms, but their name use differently in different areas.

Answer 9

absolutely nothing!!! except their in different areas of the world

Answer 10

the area they occur in, otherwise they are the same reaction to atmospheric conditions.