Typhoon Malakas to Impact Taiwan Saturday, Japan is Next

Tom Moore
Published: September 16,2016
Typhoon Malakas should be nearing peak intensity in the western Pacific Ocean as it continues to move northwestward. Tropical storm force winds may be reaching Taiwan's eastern coast, and conditions should deteriorate for the northeastern portion of that island throughout the morning, local time.
A sea and land typhoon warning is in effect for the northeastern half of the island of Taiwan including Taipei.
Malakas could impact parts of Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands late this week into the weekend.
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Threat to Japan and Taiwan?

As of Friday evening (EDT), or early Saturday morning local time, Typhoon Malakas was centered about 160 miles south-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.

Current Storm Info

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Malakas will move toward the northwest then north on late Friday into Saturday (EDT) as it navigates around a subtropical ridge of high pressure aloft.
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Typhoon Malakas is forecast to maintain strength as a Category 4 into midday Saturday, local time in Taiwan. By late Saturday, the typhoon should begin to weaken.
Friday into Friday night (U.S. time), or Saturday local time, Malakas will threaten Japan's southernmost Ryukyu Islands and northern Taiwan. These areas could see heavy rainfall and damaging winds as Malakas passes through.

Projected Path and Intensity

While heavy rain seems likely, the extent of the wind damage threat will be dependent on the exact path and strength of Malakas at that time. The northeastern portion of Taiwan could see tropical storm force winds, and gusts to 60 mph.
Wind gusts have been reported up to 59 mph on an elevated station at Lanyu, Taiwan and 38 mph in Hualien province in eastern Taiwan.
In Japan, wind gusts up to 100 mph were reported in Yonagunijima where the eye will pass overshortly. Gusts to 60 mph were reported in Ishigaki in the far southern Ryukyu Islands early Saturday.

Current Wind Speed and Gusts

Tropical-storm-force winds could spread as far west as Taipei, Taiwan.
All interests in northern Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa and Kadena Air Base, should continue to monitor the track of Malakas and make necessary preparations if needed. At the moment, however, it appears Malakas will track far enough west to spare Okinawa from major impacts.

Rainfall Forecast

Late this weekend into next week, Malakas will curl northeastward and begin to weaken. Malakas could impact southern mainland Japan early next week, but should be weakening to a tropical storm.

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