The most powerful tropical cyclone of the year has its sights set on the Philippines and the island nation is rushing to prepare for its arrival. Super Typhoon Haiyan is on course to strike the central part of the nation Friday morning causing extensive damage and likely loss of life.

In the latest advisory from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Haiyan was reported to be packing sustained winds of 190 mph with gusts to an extraordinary 230 mph. The winds easily give the storm a Category 5 ranking (157 mph or higher) on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

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