Megi to threaten Tawian and eastern China as a typhoon next week

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

September 23,2016; 9:43PM,EDT

 

 

Tropical Storm Megi will continue to strengthen this weekend before threatening lives and property across Taiwan and eastern China next week.
Megi will become the next typhoon in the western Pacific Basin this weekend.
The system will be over the open waters of the northern Philippine Sea this weekend, posing hazards only to shipping interests as rain, wind and seas increase around its center.
Danger to lives and property will heighten next week as the future typhoon takes aim at land.

"The most likely area to experience significant impacts will be across Taiwan and then into southeastern China," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
Depending on the exact track, Taiwan, Japan's southernmost Ryukyu Islands or far northern Luzon Island in the Philippines could be grazed by rain, wind and rough surf.
Even if the Philippines escape the damaging winds and flooding rain from Megi, moisture may still be drawn onto western Luzon Island and trigger flash flooding, including in Manila.
Taiwan, on the other hand, should begin bracing for Megi to make a direct hit or to pass dangerously close.
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"Impacts to Taiwan are expected from Monday night through Tuesday (local time)," Douty said.
The strength of Megi will be equal to that of a Category 2 or 3 hurricane when it slams into or makes its closest approach to Taiwan with destructive winds, flooding rain and an inundating storm surge.
There is a greater risk of Megi causing wind damage and flooding across Taiwan since the island has been affected by both Super Typhoon Meranti and Typhoon Malakas in the last two weeks.
"Even though Megi will not be nearly as strong as Meranti, it could cause more damage than expected because of infrastructure already weakened by Meranti and the glancing blow from Malakas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
Already saturated and loose soil could lead to more hazards.
The risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides will become even more dire if Megi slows down as it tracks near or over Taiwan, allowing rounds of torrential rain to persist into midweek.
A closeup look of Megi in the western Pacific Ocean. (NOAA satellite)
Megi will then threaten eastern China after battering Taiwan, likely at midweek.
Douty is most concerned for Megi to move into southeastern China, most likely from eastern Guangdong to Fujian, he said.
"While we should see weakening by [the time Megi reaches China], there could still be damaging wind near the point of landfall along with flooding rain," Douty said.
The mountainous terrain of Taiwan will cause Megi to be past its peak intensity as it tracks toward eastern China, but it could still be a typhoon at landfall.
Megi will continue to weaken once over land in eastern China. While the risk of damaging winds will lessen as Megi weakens, flooding rain will likely remain a concern until Megi dissipates.