Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons are all names used in various regions for the same type of storm. Each of these names is in reference to tropical cyclones, which happen to be a huge storm system in a region that develops over warm ocean waters that rotate and have a central eye. These type of tropical storms have enough power and force to cause damaging effects.

Location, Location, Location!

The location on where the storm is occurring is the only difference between cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons. The general term that is often used by meteorologists for hurricanes and typhoons is a tropical cyclone due to the rotation of clouds and thunderstorms that occurs over subtropical and tropical waters. When any tropical cyclone has winds of 74 mph or more, then it is then called a cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon and the location of the storm will determine which name is used.

Typhoons – Tropical Storms
If you are located on the Western North Pacific Ocean border, on China or Japan’s coast, or in the Philippines and there is a tropical storm with 74 mph winds, then this would be considered a typhoon. A ‘Super Typhoon’ is equal to a Category 4 or 5 Hurricane.
Hurricanes – Tropical Storms
If you are located in Hawaii all the way up to the Mexican coast on the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico or on the North Atlantic Ocean coastline, then a tropical storm would be called a hurricane.
Cyclones – Tropical Storms
If you are located in the South Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean and the tropical storms have 74 mph wind speeds, then these are called cyclones.
All of the names of the tropical storms are given by meteorologists and are based upon the geographical location.
Differences between Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons
Although they each have obvious traits, they also have differences. The large, warm tropical ocean in the Western Pacific Ocean along with the atmosphere traits, typhoons occur more than hurricanes do. There are around 25-30 storms that turn into a typhoon each and every year and only around 6-10 storms turn into a full blown hurricane.

Common Months for Typhoons and Hurricanes

Typhoons and hurricanes usually occur from June to November. Summer and early fall are the months that most of us are familiar with as ‘Hurricane Season’, with storms that are located around the North Atlantic basin. It is very rare for a hurricane to occur during the middle of winter. To date, there have only been four hurricanes that occurred in the middle of winter since 1886 so it is quite rare. Typhoons always occur during the same peak season, but on the flip side they could possibly occur during the middle of winter, too. On average, there are about two typhoons that occur during winter each year.

Can a typhoon or hurricane occur in both areas at the same time? It is not common for this to happen as both storms would have to gain strength at the same time and the atmospheric patterns and the ocean waters would have to be precise for it to occur. The ocean waters in the Western North Pacific have to have the right patterns and conditions for a typhoon to form, and the North Atlantic Ocean waters would have to have the right patterns and conditions for a hurricane to form, which is very unlikely.