WeatherFanatics: Typhoon Rammasun, Packing 145 mph Winds, Nears Hainan

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Typhoon Rammasun, Packing 145 mph Winds, Nears Hainan

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

July 17,2014; 11:20PM,EDT

Typhoon Rammasun closing in on Hainan China. Landfall is expected before dawn EDT (Friday afternoon local time)
Rammasun now packs winds of 145 mph with higher gusts. The eyewall is now well established, so further strengthening is possible in the last few hours before landfall.
Rammasun is expected to make landfall as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane within the next three hours.
Warm ocean waters combined with light wind shear will allow the storm to remain well organized through Friday as it approaches Hainan Island. Rammasun will likely bring widespread winds of 100 mph to northern Hainan Island on Friday afternoon and Friday night (local time) with higher gusts. Widespread wind damage is expected across northern Hainan, as well as the Leizhou Peninsula to the north.

Damaging winds will also be possible across southern Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces later Friday into Friday night in China as well as northern Vietnam late Friday night into Saturday.
Flooding rain, mudslides and coastal storm surge will also be risks associated with Rammasun.

A devastating storm surge will be possible in northern and eastern Hainan Island as well as the southwest coast of Guangdong, including the Leizhou Peninsula.
Rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is expected from Hainan Island through southern parts of Guangdong and Guangxi Province and across northern Vietnam, including Hanoi with local amounts around 300 mm (12 inches)

Satellite image of Typhoon Rammasun on Thursday, courtesy of NOAA.
Hong Kong will remain far enough to the north, that any impacts will be limited to higher surf and a few downpours and gusty winds as the outer bands of the storm pass through the area.
Due to the rugged terrain of northern Vietnam, Rammasun will quickly weaken as it moves inland and become a post-tropical low by Sunday.
RELATED:
China Weather Center
Western Pacific Tropical Center
A Look at Rammasun's Rapid Strengthening
Even though it will be quickly weakening, torrential rain from the storm will lead to a widespread flooding threat in northern Vietnam and also likely produce mudslides across the region.

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