Super Typhoon Soudelor Hits Saipan: A Look at the World's Biggest Storm

Super Typhoon Soudelor, the biggest storm of the year, is barreling through the Pacific Ocean.

Here's what you need to know:

What makes this a record storm?

Soudelor reached a record low pressure of 900 millibars, making it the strongest storm of the year, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

The previous lowest pressure was March's Super Typhoon Maysak, which was recorded at 910 millibars.

Where did the storm hit?

The typhoon first hit the U.S. island of Saipan, where a state of disaster and emergency has been declared.

How fast was it going?

When Soudelor struck Saipan, it sustained winds at about 100 mph, and gusts up to 120 mph, according to the Associated Press.

Soudelor has since reached winds up to 180 mph, the AP said.

Where's the storm going next?

Soudelor is heading west, toward Taipei. It may hit Japan's Ishigaki Island next, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.