Already equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 115 knots (212 km/h, 132 mph), super typhoon Meranti is expected to strengthen during the next few days and then make landfall on the coast of Fujian Province, China on Thursday night.
According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, Meranti is expected to weaken before it makes landfall but could still cause extensive damage.
AIR Worldwide issued its report on Monday at about 1:50 pm ET.
“Currently about 900 km southeast of Taipei and traveling west-northwest at 25 km/h through an area with favorable conditions for continued intensification—low wind shear and very warm ocean water—Meranti is expected to pass by the northern Philippines, close enough to bring damaging winds and heavy precipitation to the Batanes and Babuyan islands and northern Luzon Island on Tuesday,” said Dr. Anna Trevino, senior scientist at AIR Worldwide. “On Wednesday, Meranti is expected to bring damaging winds, rough surf, and heavy rainfall (between 250 mm and 500 mm, with 750 mm possible in the mountains) to Taiwan as the storm nears, but then passes to the south of the island. The eastern and southwestern parts of Taiwan are expected to experience the greatest impacts from Meranti.”
After bypassing Taiwan to the south on Wednesday, Meranti is expected to make landfall on the coast of Fujian Province Thursday night when it will have weakened but still have the potential to cause damage, AIR Worldwide said.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on September 15 this year, and Meranti could disrupt celebrations in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong.
AIR Worldwide said this is the second super typhoon to form this season, after Nepartak, which made landfall in Taiwan on July 8 and in Shishi City, Fujian Province, China, on July 9. Nepartak was the strongest first typhoon since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1951.
Just behind Meranti is another tropical system that could develop later this week and make additional impacts to both Taiwan and China, the catastrophe modeling firm said.
Source: AIR Worldwide
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters China
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