Typhoons happen sometimes in almost all countries that are near large bodies of water. In the Pacific, people often call the storm a "typhoon." It is called a cyclone in the Indian Ocean, and it is called a hurricane in the United States, where it usually comes from the Atlantic.
A typhoon is a big storm with strong winds and heavy rain that happens over a large body of water, usually the ocean. A low-pressure area, which speeds up evaporation and wind, helps the snow to pile up.
Typhoons don't appear out of nowhere. Most of the time, it takes a few days to make one. Most of the time, typhoons begin as thunderstorms that get stronger and grow into a big weather disturbance.
Weather satellites can easily track and keep an eye on typhoons because of their large size and cloud system.
So, weather bureaus can always keep an eye on how one is developing. This lets the government and safety groups send out typhoon warnings to keep people safe who might be affected by the weather.
A typhoon is a bad thing that is almost always predictable. Almost, because its tracks are easy to change, but definitely, because it is easy to keep track of its presence.
Getting ready for a typhoon
Countries that often get hit by typhoons have put in place safety measures to help people get ready for the dangerous weather and reduce, if not completely stop, injuries and deaths.
When a typhoon is about to hit an area, typhoon warnings should be sent out at least 24 to 48 hours before the storm is expected to hit land.
So, people whose homes are in the warning areas should first and foremost take the safety precautions that are needed. Here are a few examples.
- Make sure your house is strong enough to withstand strong winds and sudden floods. If not, just leave and go to an evacuation or safety centre that has been marked as safe.
- Make sure you have enough food and water to last for a few days. Typhoons can bring heavy rains and strong winds that can damage buildings and infrastructure. After a typhoon, grocery stores and markets might not be able to open again, so make sure you have enough supplies to last until things get back to normal.
During a typhoon, you may want to turn off the electricity in your house to avoid any accidents. The local utility company will turn off the electricity on its own.
Typhoons bring rain and strong winds, so make sure you have jackets and umbrellas in case you need to leave.
If your home is safe enough, stay inside before and during the typhoon to stay safe. During typhoons, power lines could fall into the streets and put people in danger. The same is true for falling or even flying objects, which are usually what cause injuries and deaths.
- Always check the news for new information about the typhoon. Get transistor radios to make sure you can still hear the news even if the power and phone lines go out.
Typhoons are weather events, so keep that in mind. No one can stop it from forming or from coming over. But people can help stop the damage that the weather disturbance could cause.
They can help if they don't become one of the people who die. It's not worth losing your life to a rare weather event like a typhoon because life is too valuable.
