Best Breathtaking Satellite Picture of Super-Typhoon Haiyan

See the continental size of Super-Typhoon Haiyan in this breathtaking satellite image, showing the full planet Earth and the typhoon at night approaching the Philippines and China, taken from the geostationary satellites of the Japan Meteorological Agency and EUMETSAT.

The massive typhoon lashed the central and southern Philippines on Nov. 7, bringing with it sustained winds of a Category 5 hurricane. "Haiyan has achieved tropical cyclone perfection," said Brian McNoldy, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, in a news release. "It is now estimated at 165kts (190 mph) with a 8.0 on the Dvorak scale...the highest possible value."

On Nov. 7, Super-Typhoon Haiyan's maximum sustained winds were at 189.9 mph. Yet gusts as strong as 230.2 mph were also recorded at the time. It's expected that this storm will cause catastrophic damage: a high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas and power outages will last for weeks to possibly months.

Warnings in the Philippines have been raise throughout much of the country.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that extremely favorable environmental conditions such as the warm waters ahead of the system will help to maintain its strength at super typhoon intensity through landfall in the central Philippines and up to 1500 UTC/10 a.m. EDT on Nov. 8. According to forecast track, Manila is now expected to be impacted by the northeastern quadrant, the strongest side of the storm.

After passing through the Philippines, Haiyan is expected to move through the South China Sea as it heads for landfall in Vietnam.