A Typhoon is a Mature tropical

cyclone that develops in the

northwest part of the Pacific
Ocean between 180 degrees
and 100 degrees east.

To form a Typhoon, you need these conditions:

A warm sea surface, Atmospheric Instability, High humidity in the lower to middle levels of
the troposphere, enough coriolis force to develop a low pressure center, a pre-existing low
level focus or disturbance, a low vertical wind shear. While these conditions are necessary
they DO NOT GUARUNTEE a Typhoon.

Typhoons if they are formed out in the ocean and stay

there the y can last from a few days to a few weeks
until they reach land. And it takes them a couple
weeks to form.

Typhoon Zeb (1998) over the western North Pacific shows a disc-like rotating cloud mass
typical of tropical cyclones.
The image was originally captured by the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS-5) of
Japan Meteoroogical Agency (JMA). Anyone wishing to further disseminate the satellite
image should seek permission from JMA, 1-3-4 Ote-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan (Fax:

They Usually happen

from June Through
November.

Typhoons can destroy

homes and cause million
and millions of dollars in
damage depending on the
category.

typhoons are large and sometimes

intensely violent storm systems. In
meteorological terms, they are
tropical cyclones that have
maximum sustained winds of at
least 120 km/h (75 mph). Atlantic
and eastern Pacific storms are
called hurricanes, from the West
Indian huracan ("big wind"),
whereas western Pacific storms are
called typhoons, from the Chinese
taifun, "great wind."