Typhoon Megi Strengthening in the Western Pacific; Strike on Taiwan Likely Tuesday

Tom Moore and Jonathan Erdman
Published: September 25,2016
Typhoon Megi, now a Category 2 equivalent typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean, is still gaining strength and appears likely to be the third strong typhoon to strike Taiwan this season.
(MORE: Hurricane Central)
Megi is currently located about 440 miles east-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan. Megi rapidly intensified with wind speeds increasing from a 50 mph tropical storm to a 105 mph typhoon in just 24 hours.

Current Storm Status

A recent flurry of typhoons in the western Pacific has been very unnerving for residents of Taiwan and the northern Philippines, and it looks like yet another threat is looming.
(TYPHOON RECAPS: Meranti | Nepartak)

Forecast

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Megi will be steered toward the west-northwest around the southern periphery of a subtropical ridge.
(MORE: Just Because It's Fall Doesn't Mean We Shouldn't Pay Attention to the Tropics)
The atmospheric and oceanic environments are favorable for this tropical system to develop and rapidly intensify. Wind shear is light and ocean temperatures are in the mid-80s.

Projected Path and Intensity

This track will likely take Megi toward Taiwan, with a possible landfall Tuesday, local time, according to the latest forecasts from both the Japan Meteorological Agency and the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Megi is forecast to become the equivalent of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane in strength prior to landfall.
(MORE: Typhoon Alley...The Planet's Most Intense Tropical Cyclones)

Typhoon Force Wind Probabilities

After interacting with Taiwan's mountains, Megi's circulation will weaken before making its final landfall in southeast China to the northeast of Hong Kong Wednesday.
In addition to the threat of damaging winds, coastal flooding and battering waves, Megi, as many Taiwan tropical cyclones do, will deposit torrential rainfall, particularly over the higher terrain, where 1 to 2 feet of rain may occur through Wednesday.
(FORECAST: Taipei)
Flash flooding and landslides are likely in prone areas of Taiwan's mountains, particularly considering saturated ground from the soaking provided by Meranti, then Malakas one to two weeks ago.

Rainfall Outlook Through Friday

Additional heavy rainfall will spread into southeast China ahead of and after Megi's final landfall.
(FORECAST: Hong Kong)
Keep checking back with weather.com for the latest on the development and track of this potentially threatening tropical system.
MORE: Typhoon Meranti- September 2016