Science Common Sense

917 - What is the difference between a hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone?

The main difference between a hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone is the location where the storm takes place.

• A hurricane happens in the Atlantic Ocean and the east coast of the United States, and the Caribbean Sea.
• A typhoon happens in the Pacific Ocean near Asia and the west coast of the United States.
• A cyclone happens in the Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean near Australia and India.

Other than the location, they all mean the same thing: a big, rotating storm with strong winds and heavy rain.