Atlantic vs. Pacific hurricane activity: Which is stronger?

Dear Tom,
Why does the Atlantic Ocean get more hurricane activity than the Pacific?
Scott Okun
Dear Scott,
With all of the recent hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin it may seem
that way, but the truth is the Pacific wins the tropical cyclone competition
hands down. The Atlantic Basin averages about 10 named storms each year
while the Eastern Pacific typically logs 16 storms. Because of the potential
threat to the United States, the Atlantic storms get a lot of publicity
while most of the eastern Pacific storms get little press as they pose a
threat only to shipping. In addition, each year the Northwest Pacific
averages 20 typhoons and the Southwest Pacific waters generate as many as 10
hurricanes. In contrast, because of colder water and strong winds aloft
there are almost no hurricanes in the South Atlantic.