WeatherFanatics: Kalmaegi Hits China, Vietnam Next

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Kalmaegi Hits China, Vietnam Next

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

September 16,2014; 9:09PM,EDT

After pummeling the Philippines over the weekend with torrential rainfall and gusty winds, Kalmaegi strengthened over the South China Sea and made a second landfall in southern China as a typhoon on Tuesday.
Kalmaegi brought winds over 129 kph (80 mph) to parts of the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island on Tuesday as the typhoon quickly passed over the region. After interaction with land on Tuesday, the system weakened to a tropical storm.
Rainfall amounts were quite impressive across northern Hainan Island as 150-300 millimeters (6-12 inches) of rain fell in under 24 hours.
Even several hundred miles from the storm track, powerful squalls lashed Hong Kong where 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) of rain fell and wind gusts reached 110 kph (68 mph).

Over the weekend, widespread rainfall amounts greater than 100 millimeters (4 inches) were reported across the Philippines with more than 375 millimeters (15 inches) falling just north of Manila along the coast of Subic Bay.
Rainfall across the Greater Manila Area averaged 75-150 millimeters (3-6 inches) through Monday afternoon, local time.

Kalmaegi killed at least two people in the Philippines and eight others drowned in a ferry accident, according to the Associated Press.
Strong winds and flooding rainfall led to power outages and some damaged homes across northern Luzon. Rough surf will pound the coast, creating dangerous conditions for swimmers and boaters.
Rough surf from Kalmaegi is likely to blame for sinking a ferry near Panaon Island on Saturday.

After reaching its peak intensity over the South China Sea, Kalmaegi briefly crossed the Leizhou Peninsula on Tuesday with a final landfall expected in northern Vietnam Tuesday night as a tropical storm.
This powerful storm will threaten lives and property across southern China and northern Vietnam by unleashing destructive winds, widespread flooding rain and an inundating storm surge. Mudslides would also be a concern across the rugged terrain of the region.
After making a final landfall in Vietnam, flooding rainfall will spread westward into northern Laos, eastern Myanmar and Yunnan Province, China, during the middle of the week.
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More than a month had passed since a typhoon (Genevieve after a rare status change) roamed the waters of the western Pacific Basin.
AccuWeather.com Meteorologists Eric Leister and Jordan Root contributed to this story.

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