Typhoon Chan-hom Targets Shanghai This Weekend; Nangka Becomes Super Typhoon

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

July 9,2015; 10:57PM,EDT

 

 

Typhoon Chan-hom continues to strengthen as it pass through Japan's Ryukyu Islands on its way to the coast of China.
The eye of Chan-hom is tracking between Okinawa and Miyako of the Ryukyu Islands Friday. It will continue to track toward the west and northwest as it approaches China.
While the core of the extreme winds are remaining between islands, there are still dangerous feeder bands lashing the islands of Japan.
The combination of very warm ocean waters and relatively low wind shear will provide a conducive environment for Chan-hom to strengthen further with a small chance for intensification into a super typhoon later Friday or Saturday.

Chan-hom is a dangerous storm packing sustained winds of 210 kph (130 mph), making it the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. Only some strengthening is needed for the storm to reach Super Typhoon status with sustained winds of 240 kph (150 mph).
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Due to the large size and expected strengthening, this system will be capable of producing life-threatening conditions within several hundred kilometers (miles) of its track.
Anyone from Shanghai to Taipei and Okinawa should continue to monitor the progress of Chan-hom for updates to potential impacts, as the latest indications point toward the Ryukyu Islands, northern Taiwan and eastern China facing the greatest risk for destructive winds, flooding rain and an inundating storm surge from Chan-hom later this week.
Miyako, Yaeyama and Okinawa are expected to face the worst of the typhoon in the short term with wind gusts over 130 kph (80 mph) for several hours and isolated gusts to 160 kph (100 mph). In addition, flooding rainfall in excess of 150 mm (6 inches) is expected.

Northern Taiwan, including Taipei, will face their worst conditions late Friday into Friday night. During this time, flooding is possible along with isolated wind damage. Rainfall rates in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) per hour are possible along with winds over 65 kph (40 mph).
The cyclone will begin to turn north as it approaches the coast of eastern China on Saturday, eventually tracking toward Shanghai on Sunday and Sunday night. By this time, Chan-hom will be weakening significantly, but there can still be damaging winds and flooding rainfall.
Rainfall is expected to average 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) across the coastal plain of eastern China, including Shanghai from Friday night through Sunday. Winds gusts in excess of 80 kph (50 mph) are expected.
AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to provide more precise details in the upcoming days to help residents make necessary precautions to protect lives and property.
On the heels of Chan-hom is Super Typhoon Nangka. This powerful cyclone will also track northwestward through the western Pacific Ocean, slightly more to the north of Chan-hom and strengthen in the process.
This animated GIF shows Chan-hom, Nangka and Linfa spinning over the Western Pacific. (NOAA/Satellite)
The more northern track of Nangka limited the impacts to Guam to a few gusty showers and periods of rain.
Nangka will remain a powerful cyclone as it moves north and west into early next week and is expected to impact parts of Japan and South Korea with rain and wind late next week.
Meteorologists Adam Douty, Kristina Pydynowski, Anthony Sagliani, and Dave Samuhel contributed to this story.