A tropical cyclone is an iconic storm that strikes fear (or laughter) in the heart of coastal residents around the world. Most of these low pressure systems over the ocean are weak, but some can grow into monsters. If they’re all the same kind of storm, though, why do we call them different names around the world?
Typhoon Dolphin lashed the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific last night as a strong category two. The storm was initially expected to clear Guam with mild impacts, but a last minute shift in the storm’s track left Andersen Air Force Base with winds gusting over 100 MPH.
Typhoon Hagupit made landfall in the Philippines shortly after 12:00 AM on Sunday, packing winds of 110 MPH as it came ashore. The storm is much weaker than it was a few days ago, but catastrophic flash flooding is likely as Hagupit will take nearly three days to track across the island country before emerging in the South China Sea on Tuesday.
Typhoon Hagupit is approaching the Philippines today as a violent typhoon with winds of 120 MPH and gusts up to 170 MPH. The storm will bring catastrophic flooding, mudslides, significant wind damage, and a 13-foot storm surge to parts of the island country over the weekend.
Super Typhoon Vongfong is churning in the western Pacific Ocean this afternoon with winds of 180 MPH. The typhoon's ferocious winds are the strongest in the world so far this year. Vongfong is expected to weaken before hitting Japan as the equivalent of a strong category two this weekend.
One of the biggest sticking points when it comes to weather forecasts is the public's confusion over the terms "hurricane," "typhoon," and "cyclone." Since they're three different names, people think they're three different kinds of storm. Here's a quick explainer on what's in a name.
Super Typhoon Rammasun made landfall in southeastern China earlier on Friday with winds of 155 MPH, making the storm equivalent to that of a borderline category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic. Satellite and radar imagery coming from the storm are downright impressive, showing Rammasun's nearly-perfect structure.
Heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Neoguri triggered this intense mudslide in Nagiso, Japan on Wednesday. The video shows a muddy waterfall violently overtaken by an onslaught of trees, mud, and debris. The mudslide destroyed numerous homes and businesses, killing a 12-year-old boy and sending more than 200 people to shelters in the area.
Super Typhoon Neoguri is churning towards the southern islands of Japan this evening with the power equivalent to that of a category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters expect that Neoguri could have winds of 165 MPH when it comes dangerously close to Okinawa on Tuesday.
