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Typhoon Champi Nears Taiwan, Cancellation of Flights and Warnings Issued
Confirmed
In Short: The CWA issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi, advising vessels operating in the Bashi Channel and waters around Taiwan to remain on high alert.
The typhoon, which previously reached super typhoon status with maximum sustained wind speeds of nearly 300 kph, has weakened to 213 kph (132 mph) as it moves towards China and Japan.
Over 23,000 military personnel are on standby to assist with rescue efforts, and more than 150 domestic and international flights have been canceled ahead of the storm.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid visiting mountainous areas or the coast, emphasizing the need for preparation.
Champi is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan through Saturday, with the storm's radius currently at 320 kilometers.
The typhoon is projected to pass closest to Taiwan late on Friday, off its northeastern coast, before heading north toward waters off Shanghai.
The CWA issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi, advising vessels operating in the Bashi Channel and waters around Taiwan to remain on high alert.
The storm could dump up to 900 millimeters (35 inches) of rain in mountainous regions of northern and northeastern Taiwan, and whip up waves more than six meters (20 feet) tall.
As of Thursday afternoon, Champi was about 520 km southeast of Taiwan’s southern tip, with its projected track shifting slightly westward.
The CWA forecaster Jason Cheng warned that the typhoon would have its most significant impact starting all day tomorrow through the first half of Saturday.
Taiwan’s transport ministry reported that 125 flights had been canceled on Thursday, mostly domestic services, while the island’s rail network remained unaffected.
The CWA also noted that the storm could slow or linger near Taiwan, potentially prolonging its effects.
Taiwanese professionals working in Japan can now list “Taiwan” as their place of origin following Tokyo’s easing of rules on “nationality” in official licensing documents.
What this adds
The storm's weakening from super typhoon status to its current strength is noted, and the CWA's shift in the storm's projected track is highlighted.
The cancellation of flights and the issuance of warnings underscore the potential impact of Typhoon Champi on Taiwan's infrastructure and safety.
Background
The name Champi has been used for three tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific Ocean. The name was contributed by Laos and refers to the white champaca or plumeria in Lao.
What's confirmed
- Typhoon Champi is expected to sweep past Taiwan's northeast coast on Friday and Saturday as it moves towards China and Japan, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
- "Currently, the typhoon has a storm radius of 320 kilometres... Compared to the previous Typhoon Bavi, Champi's storm area is not as vast," Cheng said.
- More than 23,000 military personnel are on standby to help with rescue efforts.
- It was previously classed as a super typhoon, with reported maximum sustained wind speeds of nearly 300 kph, but it has since weakened.
- Champi is packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 213 kilometres (132 miles) per hour, according to the latest update from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
- "Typhoon Champi is expected to have its most significant impact starting all day tomorrow through the first half of Saturday," CWA forecaster Jason Cheng told AFP.
- A powerful typhoon headed towards Taiwan on Thursday, triggering the cancellation of dozens of flights and prompting warnings for locals to prepare for heavy rain, strong winds and giant waves.
- Champi is the latest in a busy Pacific storm season turbo-charged by the El Nino weather phenomenon that has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific.
- “Everyone is urged to remain vigilant and be prepared for the strong winds and heavy rains brought by the typhoon,” Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in a Facebook post.
- The storm is expected to dump up to 900 millimeters (35 inches) of rain in the mountainous regions of northern and northeastern Taiwan from Thursday to Saturday, and whip up waves more than six meters (20 foot) tall.
- Over 150 domestic and international flights were canceled for Thursday ahead of the storm.
- The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi, which is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan through Saturday.
What's still developing
- Although typhoons are more common during the summer months, they can also occur in autumn, bringing strong winds and torrential rain.
- As of yesterday afternoon, Champi was about 910km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, CWA data showed.
- He said differing views on the rules had been raised previously and further coordination with the central government was possible, but the immediate priority was typhoon preparedness.