A typhoon is an intense tropical cyclone of the northwestern Pacific (west of the date line). It shares the same structure and dynamics as an Atlantic hurricane: central eye, eyewall, spiral bands, and winds exceeding 118 km/h.
The world's most intense
The western Pacific produces the most frequent and intense tropical cyclones on Earth due to the vast area of warm water available. Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013) reached 315 km/h winds. Japan, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan are the most affected countries. The regional scale uses the JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) classification.