You might think hurricanes only hit the US. Nope. The Western Pacific is the undisputed heavyweight champion. That region—home to the Philippines, Japan, China, and Vietnam—gets an average of 25 typhoons a year. Yes, typhoons are just hurricanes with a fancier passport and a different spin direction.
But here’s the kicker: China sees the most landfalls globally—around seven per year. The Philippines is so used to them, they probably have a national holiday for “Tuesday During Typhoon Season.” Japan gets soaked regularly, too; their cities are built like massive drainage sponges. You know you’re in trouble when your architecture is designed to survive a 150-mph bathtub.
How Does Climate Change Fuel Hurricanes and Typhoons?
Surprise guest: Australia’s Coral Sea and the Bay of Bengal (hello, Bangladesh and India) also see frequent hits. Bangladesh is basically the punchline of geography: low-lying, crowded, and right under the “smash here” sign for Bay storms. The world is not fair.
The “Wait, Really?” List: Oddball Hotspots
You probably think hurricanes don’t hit Mexico’s Pacific coast. They do! Those are called “eastern Pacific hurricanes,” and they occasionally wander up to Baja California or even whisper to Hawaii. Hawaii gets a hurricane every few years—usually a gentle reminder that paradise isn’t bulletproof.
And Europe? Rarely. A hurricane making it to, say, Ireland is like a flamingo showing up at a polar bear convention—possible, but you’d order a round of drinks to commemorate it. The last real one was Hurricane Ophelia in 2017, and it gave the Irish a story for the pub.
