[mmsG]

Another one is approaching and the current track looks a direct hit to HK.
HIGOS

[Myrona]

It might decrease to a tropical depression before it reaches us (though, I'm not a weather expert) but if it does hit, here's hoping it hits on a weekday during the day for another day off.

[MovingIn07]

It's only a tropical storm right now, not a typhoon. I'm more worried about the fact that it appears to be hitting Manila right about the time my plane lands on Thursday.....

[Sigga]

Tropical storm = typhoon

I think you meant "tropical depression"

[limepickle]

I thought it goes

Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Typhoon Cat 1
Typhoon Cat 2
Typhoon Cat 3
Typhoon Cat 4
Typhoon Cat 5 (Super Typhoon)

Originally Posted by Sigga

Tropical storm = typhoon

I think you meant "tropical depression"

[PDLM]

In Asia it goes:

Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Severe Tropical Storm
Typhoon

At the moment Higos is a Tropical Storm

[MovingIn07]

Well according to the info provided by the HKO - a typhoon is different from a tropical storm (from other sites, it appears to be equivalent to a hurricane Category 1-5), below which is a severe tropical storm below which is a tropical storm below which is a tropical depression. HKO says HIGOS is a tropical depression while Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) for long-range forecasts of hurricane, typhoon and cyclone worldwide is saying that it's a tropical storm....

EDIT: And it took me so long to check my facts others jumped in ahead...!

[Sigga]

"Super Typhoon" sounds like a fast aeroplane!

I think you're right, a typhoon trumps a tropical storm.

They have a lexicon of sorts here.

But do they ever call them "typhoons"? I always hear that woman on their hotline say (adopts dykey American accent) "Please be reminded, the tropical cyclone signal number 8hasbeenissued".


Edit: I think a typhoon is equivalent to a hurricane, which would only be a number 10.

[The BeeDees]

how many times a year does a tropical storm/typhoon hit HK?

[MovingIn07]

Too many.

Is it me or is this year particularly bad?

EDIT: A more helpful answer would be go and look at the HKO website - they have statistics and reports for years and years of history - it's quite fascinating actually