Science Common Sense

1026 - What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

There's no difference between a hurricane and a typhoon, they're actually the same type of storm. They're both big, strong storms with heavy rain and strong winds.

The difference is where they happen:

• If the storm happens in the Atlantic Ocean or near the Americas, it's called a "hurricane".
• If the storm happens in the Pacific Ocean near Asia, it's called a "typhoon".
• If the storm happens in the Indian Ocean near Africa or Australia, it's called a "cyclone".

So, they're all the same type of storm, just with different names in different parts of the world.