Super Typhoon Meranti Rapidly Intensifies Into Category 5, Dangerous Threat to Taiwan, China and Northern Philippines Early This Week

Chris Dolce and Tom Moore
Published: September 12,2016
Super Typhoon Meranti is now a Category 5 storm, packing maximum sustained winds up to 185 mph, with gusts up to 225 mph, as it heads west-northwest in the western Pacific Ocean. Meranti has undergone rapid intensification since Sunday morning.
Parts of Taiwan, the northern Philippines and southeastern China will see impacts from this dangerous typhoon over the next few days.
(MORE: Amazing Images of Meranti)

Latest Status and Forecast

As of Monday night (EDT), Meranti was centered about 420 miles southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.

Current Storm Info

Maximum significant wave heights near the center of Meranti are currently around 48 feet.
Meranti is being steered to the west-northwest along the southwest periphery of an upper-level high pressure system that is located to its north.
The typhoon has undergone rapid intensification, which means maximum sustained winds increased by at least 30 knots (about 35 mph) in 24 hours or less.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Meranti's winds had increased from 85 mph to 180 mph in the 24 hours ending Monday at 11 a.m. EDT. That's a 95 mph increase in winds during that time, or more than double the rapid intensification criteria.
The 185 mph winds tie Typhoon Meranti with Tropical Cyclone Winston as the strongest tropical cyclone in the world so far this year, both topping Super Typhoon Nepartak (175 mph) in early July.
Factors leading to the rapid strengthening include low wind shear and warm ocean temperatures.
(MORE: Typhoon Alley: Where The Most Intense Tropical Cyclones Most Frequently Occur)

Taiwan, China and Northern Philippines Should Monitor Closely

Although there is uncertainty in the forecast track, all interests in Taiwan, the northern Philippines and southeastern China should monitor Meranti's progress and take appropriate action if needed.
In some ways, the forecast track for Meranti resembles the one Nepartak took in early July. Nepartak made landfall as a super typhoon (winds 150 mph or greater) near Taitung City in southeastern Taiwan as a Category 4 equivalent. It then moved into southeast China as a tropical storm.
(MORE: Super Typhoon Nepartak Recap)

Projected Path and Intensity

Here's a general timing of when Meranti's impacts may arrive and what they may be. Keep in mind, however, that all of this will be highly dependent on the ultimate track that Meranti takes.
Taiwan

• Timing: Meranti's worst potential impacts would be Wednesday, local time (Tuesday night - early Wednesday U.S. time...Taiwan is 12 hours ahead of U.S. EDT).
• Possible impacts: Damaging winds, flooding rain, mudslides and storm surge flooding in areas that are prone.
• Key Points: Meranti's exact path in relation to southern Taiwan will dictate the severity of the wind impacts, though typhoon-force winds are likely in southern Taiwan no matter what. If Meranti moves along the southern portion of the forecast path, this may keep the strongest winds near the eye just offshore from southern Taiwan. A farther north track would increase the destructive wind potential. Regardless of the wind impacts, heavy rain and flooding will be major concerns. In addition, battering surf and coastal flooding are likely threats along Taiwan's eastern coast.

Northern Philippines

• Timing: At the moment, the core of Meranti is forecast to pass north of the northern Philippines' Luzon Island on Tuesday, local time. Meranti is known as Ferdie in the Philippines.
• Possible Impacts: The Batanes and Babuyan Islands are the most likely areas to see damaging winds and heavy rainfall, depending on Meranti's path. Far northern Luzon Island should avoid the worst winds, but could see heavy rainfall from Meranti.

China 

• Timing: Meranti is forecast to move into southeastern China late Wednesday into Thursday, local time. Areas from Hong Kong northward along the coast should monitor the progress of Meranti closely.
• Possible Impacts: Potential threats in eastern China will greatly depend on how much the mountainous terrain of Taiwan disrupts the typhoon. At the very least, heavy rainfall can be expected, which may result in flooding. Damaging winds and storm surge flooding will also be potential threats.

Rainfall Forecast

Parts of Taiwan, particularly the southern and eastern sides of the island, could pick up over 12 inches of rain as Meranti passes near or just south of the southern portion of the island. Higher elevation locations will likely see the greatest rain amounts.

Rainfall Forecast

The heavy rainfall will then spread northward into southeastern China, with over 5 inches of rain possible along the coast.
Due to these copious amounts of rain, flooding and mudslides are both major concerns in Taiwan and southeastern China.

Another Typhoon After Meranti?

Well to the east of Meranti is another system that is developing in the western Pacific.
It could also threaten parts of east Asia later this week, possibly as a typhoon. The next named storm in the western Pacific would be Malakas.
The latest forecast track for this potential typhoon curls it northeast into Japan's Ryukyu Islands late this week. All interests there, including in Okinawa, should monitor this system closely for the next several days.
Eventually this system could impact southern mainland Japan this weekend.

PHOTOS: Nepartak Impacts Taiwan and China (Early July 2016)