Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are the same storm .  However: In the Northern Hemisphere they spin ( looking from above ) in the counterclockwise direction. In the Southern Hemisphere they spin in the clockwise direction. Something called the Coriolis Force created by the rotation of Planet Earth triggers the storm. They are called: Hurricane if initially formed in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific Oceans. Typhoon if formed in the Western North Pacific. Cyclone if in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ocean waters need to be at least 80 F ( 27 C ) from surface to 150 feet deep for these cyclonic storms to form.  Thus, the ocean is too cold during winter months. Hurricanes cannot exist about 300 miles above and below the equator.  Thus, no storm of this nature has ever crossed the Equator. At 39 MPH it is called a tropical storm and given a name. Reaching a sustained 74 MPH the classification is changed to hurricane, typhoon or cyclone. They are classified according the the Saffi