Typhoon Nari: The 12th Intense Hurricane of the Year

While U.S. storm watchers had their eyes on Hurricane Humberto, a Category 1 that made landfall in Texas, and Tropical Storm Ingrid, which is strolling far out in the Atlantic, the season recorded its 12th Category 4 or 5 super storm -- in the distant Pacific.

Typhoon Nari was 260 miles northeast of Taipei, Taiwan Friday, and moving southwestward toward China's coast at a slow 2.5 mph, according to NASA. Its 150-mph winds made it the equivalent of a Category 4 Hurricane. There have been at least 12 Category 4 or Category 5 storms this year around the world.

The number of strong storms could be significant if controversial predictions about global warming prove correct. Increased ocean temperatures could make storms stronger, leading to an overall increase in the number of the strongest storms.

View Larger Map Here is a list of the storms. Click the map for more information about each.

• Cyclone Dora: Category 4
• Cyclone Favio: Category 4
• Cyclone Indlala: Category 4
• Cyclone Gonu: Category 5
• Typhoon Yutu: Category 4
• Super Typhoon Man-Yi: Category 4
• Typhoon Usagi: Category 4
• Super Typhoon Sepat: Category 5
• Hurricane Flossie: Category 4
• Hurricane Dean: Category 5
• Hurricane Felix: Category 5
• Typhoon Nari: Category 4

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