Typhoon Megi is expected to eventually strengthen into a super typhoon prior toslamming into the Philippines. So is a super typhoon the same as a majorhurricane? The answer is yes and no.Just like the birth of a hurricane in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific, atropical storm in the Western Pacific will become a typhoon once its maximumsustained winds increase to 74 mph. However, the basins deviate when it comesto classifying major hurricanes and super typhoons.
A major hurricane is named such when a hurricane reaches Category 3 status withmaximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. However, the Western Pacific basinwaits until winds within a typhoon increase to 150 mph (the equivalent of astrong Category 4 hurricane) to label it a super typhoon.
Despite not having the same terminology, there is no difference between a supertyphoon and a strong Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane in the eyes of MotherNature. Both threaten to leave significant devastation and loss of life on anyland mass they pass over.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski
