Typhoon Malakas in the East China Sea with Sights on Japan

Tom Moore
Published: September 17,2016
Typhoon Malakas has begun to weaken in the East China Sea as it turns northeastward. The southern most Ryukyu Islands bared the brunt of Malakas for the next several hours where typhoon force gusts were reported on Saturday.
Malakas will continue to weaken on approach to southwestern Japan through Tuesday.
Heavy rainfall is likely in southwestern Japan during the middle of this week as Malakas moves through the country.
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Typhoon Threat to Japan

As of Saturday evening (EDT), or Sunday morning local time, Typhoon Malakas was centered about 150 miles northeast of Taipei, Taiwan.

Current Storm Info

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Malakas will move toward the northeast on Sunday as it navigates around a subtropical ridge of high pressure aloft. Malakas should accelerate some by Monday.
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Typhoon Malakas is forecast to weaken as a typhoon through Tuesday, local time in Japan.

Projected Path and Intensity

Japan's southern islands could see moderate to heavy rain bands, but Malakas should stay far enough away on Sunday and Monday that winds should remain fairly low.

Current Wind Speed and Gusts

All interests in the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa and Kadena Air Base, should continue to monitor the track of Malakas. At the moment, however, it appears Malakas will track far enough north and west to spare Okinawa from major impacts.

Rainfall Forecast

Malakas will likely impact southern mainland Japan on Tuesday, but should be weakening to a Category 1 typhoon or tropical storm. Malakas will move toward the northeast through the Japanese islands, and could be near Tokyo on Wednesday as a tropical depression.
The main impact in mainland Japan will be heavy rainfall and flooding. 6-10 inches of rain is expected through Tuesday evening in southern Japan.
Wind gusts were reported up to 59 mph on an elevated station at Lanyu, Taiwan and 38 mph in Hualien province in eastern Taiwan on Saturday morning Taiwan time.
In Japan, wind gusts up to 100 mph were reported in Yonagunijima where the eye directly passed overhead. Gusts to 60 mph were reported in Ishigaki in the far southern Ryukyu Islands early Saturday.

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