Hurricanes and typhoons

This item appears on page 66 of the August 2010 issue.

The official Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June through November. For 2010, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 70% probability of 14 to 23 named storms, with eight to 14 becoming hurricanes and three to seven of those becoming major hurricanes.

In East Asia and the West and Central Pacific regions north of the equator, typhoons may occur year-round; historically, the most active months are June through November. 

On average each season, the West and Central Pacific region experiences 31 typhoons, about half of which have the potential to cause severe destruction. The NOAA predicts a 70% chance that activity will be below normal in the Central Pacific basin during the 2010 Typhoon Season.