Typhoon Usagi Brings Damaging Winds, Heavy Rain to China

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

September 23,2013; 9:20PM,EDT

 

 

Typhoon Usagi made landfall near Shantou, just east of Hong Kong, late on Sunday afternoon, local time, with winds over 100 mph (160 kph) and extremely heavy rainfall.
Around 12 inches of rain fell in Zhangpu, China, northeast of Hong Kong, with greater amounts over the higher terrain farther inland.
Winds in Hong Kong gusted to over 50 mph (80 kph) and nearly 4 inches of rain fell at the Hong Kong International Airport from Usagi.
According to Xinhua, the official press agency for China, at least 25 people were dead as a result of the storm with over 5 million people affected.
Residents use a small boat for transport through a flooded street at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila Monday, Sept. 23, 2013 following heavy rainfall brought about by Typhoon Usagi that lashed the Philippines' northernmost island of Batanes Sunday. In the Philippines, parts of the capital remained submerged Monday and classes were cancelled.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Usagi strengthened into a super typhoon on Thursday night, local time (Thursday morning EDT) as it barreled toward southern Taiwan.
The mountainous terrain of Taiwan caused Usagi to weaken just below super typhoon status on Saturday.
Although Usagi is no longer a typhoon, gusty winds and downpours will continue through Monday night over parts of southeastern China.
Over 150 mm (5 inches) of rain fell in the higher terrain of Hong Kong with most other places picking up over 150 mm (2.75 inches). Map courtesy of the Hong Kong Observatory and shows 24-hour rainfall totals ending on Monday evening, local time.
Rain will be heaviest over the mountainous terrain, which can lead to flooding and bring the threat for mudslides.
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Usagi's wind threat will continue to lessen as it moves farther inland. Flooding rain, however, should continue to accompany Usagi as it tracks westward across South China and into northern Vietnam and Laos through Wednesday.
Although the brunt of the Usagi's impacts were felt in southeast China and Taiwan a few days prior, flooding rainfall also soaked the Philippines. A combination of the summer monsoon and increased moisture from Usagi caused flooding in Manila, where over 150 mm (6 inches) of rain fell through the weekend.
Elsewhere in the western Pacific, Pabuk will be a near miss for Japan. Two other areas, one in the South China Sea and one east of the Philippines, are being watched for tropical development this week.
Meteorologists Eric Leister, Alan Reppert, Mike Doll, and Dan DePodwin contributed to this story