Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall, was the 28th named storm this year in the northwestern Pacific. The region averages 27 storms annually.
The Philippines is ranked third on the Global Risk Index, largely due its exposure to these storms. Between 2001 and 2010, the island nation experienced an average of 18 storms per year. Not all of these storms make landfall, but when they do, the toll can be high.
In December 2012, Typhoon Bopha made landfall three times as it crossed the Philippines, killing 1,900 and causing $1.6 billion in damages.
Storms can occur year round, but most occur July through November. Below, data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration shows the past three years of named storms occurring near the Philippines. A storm gets a name when it is classified as either a tropical depression (wind speeds up to 39 mph), a tropical storm (39-72 mph) or a typhoon (winds exceeding 73 mph).
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