Hurricane Tracker Shows Typhoon Champi Nearing Taiwan With 173kph Winds
Taiwan has ordered near-total shutdowns of schools, work, transport and tourist sites as Typhoon Champi approaches, while the US National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Nevada and New Mexico, with the hurricane tracker providing key updates on the storm’s position and hazards.
Taiwan Prepares for Typhoon Champi
Taiwan canceled school and work in most municipalities except Kinmen County as Typhoon Champi nears, with its outer bands blanketing the nation and the center expected closest tonight or tomorrow. [4] The Central Weather Administration expanded its land warning for Champi to 19 regions across Taiwan proper. [4] All municipalities except Kinmen County announced cancellations, while Taitung County closed schools and offices on Green Island and Orchid Island but not the rest of the county. [4] The storm weakened to a moderate typhoon, though direct landfall could not be ruled out. [4] School and work cancellations followed the expanded warnings issued yesterday. [4] The announcements covered most of the nation as the outer band is expected to blanket the entire country. [4] Premier Cho Jung-tai urged the public to stay away from creeks, beaches and mountainous areas even after Champi leaves Taiwan. [4] The National Fire Agency asked the Hualien County Government to evacuate residents living downstream of the Wanli Creek landslide dam. [4]
Storm Track and Rainfall Outlook
Champi was located 450km east of Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving northwest at 18kph with sustained winds of 173kph and gusts to 198kph; mountainous northern and northeastern areas could receive 600-900mm of rain. [4] The hurricane tracker follows the typhoon’s movement as it interacts with Taiwan’s terrain and the weakening Pacific high-pressure system. [4] As of 5pm yesterday, Champi sat about 450km east of Oluanpi, moving northwest turning north-northwest at 18kph. [4] It packed maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts of up to 198kph, with a storm radius of 320km. [4] The storm’s radius remained broad, and Champi’s movement is expected to slow down today and tomorrow. [4] The typhoon could move erratically as it interacts with Taiwan’s terrain, with its center projected to pass within 80km of the coast, although landfall remains possible. [4] The storm’s outer band is expected to blanket the entire nation this morning, with the center coming closest between tonight and early tomorrow morning. [4] The storm circle is forecast to leave Taiwan proper by tomorrow evening, and Champi is expected to weaken after moving into waters east of Hualien County. [4] Rainfall was to increase from last night, with the heaviest downpours expected from today through tomorrow morning. [4] Mountainous areas in northern and northeastern Taiwan could receive 600mm to 900mm of rain through tomorrow. [4] The agency forecast continuous, widespread showers for northern and northeastern regions today, warning of localized heavy or extremely heavy rain, particularly in northern mountainous areas. [4] Central and eastern regions are to see localized brief showers, with heavy rain possible in the mountains of Taichung and Hualien County, while the south and southeast could expect sporadic showers. [4] Widespread showers and localized heavy rain are to persist in the north tomorrow, with brief localized showers in the east and central mountains. [4]
Taiwan cancels school and work as Typhoon Champi approaches with 173kph winds. — Source: taipei-times
Transport and Attraction Closures
Transport disruptions include cancellation of most Taiwan Railway express and non-reserved services, partial flight cancellations to outlying islands, and suspension of multiple ferry routes and national park access. [5] Taiwan Railway Corp canceled all express trains on its western and eastern trunk lines today, while the high-speed rail system would continue to operate normally. [5] For non-reserved TRC services, trains on the Coast Line, Chengzhui Line, Yilan Line and North Link Line are fully suspended. [5] Services between Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as other unsuspended routes, would operate dynamically based on weather conditions. [5] The Alishan Forest Railway has also suspended its main line services between Chiayi and Alishan for today and tomorrow. [5] Ferry services between Kaohsiung’s Gushan and Cijin districts were suspended at midnight last night, while ferries between Pingtung County and Siaoliouciou would be completely suspended tomorrow and on Sunday. [5] China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan have canceled or rescheduled flights to and from Okinawa. [5] Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air have partially canceled domestic flights connecting Taiwan proper to Penghu, Kinmen and Lienchiang counties. [5] Yushan National Park banned entry and activities from 11:30pm on Wednesday. [5] Yilan County’s Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area closed as a precaution from noon yesterday, and Gueishan Island is closed for three days from yesterday. [5] Forest recreation areas, forestry cultural parks and lowland forest parks in Hualien County closed from 1pm yesterday. [5] The North Dawu Mountain Trail, Jingu Valley Cabin, Kenting National Forest Recreation Area and Shuangliu National Forest Recreation Area in Pingtung County also closed from 1pm. [5] Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is to close from 8am today. [5] Aowanda and Hehuanshan national forest recreation areas, along with Tianchi Lodge on the Nenggao Cross-Ridge Historic Trail, are scheduled to close from today. [5]
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in the US
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for south central Lincoln County and north central Clark County in Nevada until 1:15pm PDT, with 60mph winds, quarter-size hail and radar-indicated movement north at 35mph. [1] A separate severe thunderstorm warning covered Cibola County, New Mexico, with a storm moving northeast at 45mph producing 60mph gusts and half-dollar-size hail that could damage vehicles, roofs, siding and trees. [2] The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued the warning for south central Lincoln County in south central Nevada and north central Clark County in southern Nevada until 1:15pm PDT. [1] At 12:47pm PDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of SR 168 Mile Marker 21, or 15 miles west of Moapa Town, moving north at 35mph. [1] Hazards include 60mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail, with radar indicated as the source. [1] Impact includes expected hail damage to vehicles. [1] At 1:47pm MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles south of McCartys, or 15 miles southeast of Grants, moving northeast at 45mph. [2] Hazards include 60mph wind gusts and half-dollar-size hail, with radar indicated as the source. [2] Impact includes expected hail damage to vehicles along with wind damage to roofs, siding and trees. [2] Locations impacted include Grants, San Fidel, McCartys, Skyline-Ganipa, Cubero, New Laguna, Cebolletita, Acomita Lake, North Acomita Village and Acomita, including Interstate 40. [2]
Safety Advisories and Incidents
Premier Cho Jung-tai urged the public to stay away from creeks, beaches and mountainous areas even after Champi has left Taiwan. [4] National Fire Agency Chief Secretary Cheng Chih-chiang said the agency had asked the Hualien County Government to evacuate residents living downstream of the Wanli Creek landslide dam. [4] As of yesterday morning, the landslide dam was holding 5 million tonnes of water, posing a potential disaster risk. [4] Earlier yesterday, a free diver in his 20s died after apparently being swept out to sea by a strong rip current off Siaoliouciou Island in Pingtung County. [4] At 2:25pm, more than two hours after the search began, divers aboard a recreational boat found the diver drifting off Beauty Cave. [4]
What to watch next: The storm circle is forecast to leave Taiwan proper by tomorrow evening, with coastal winds intensifying early this morning and waves of more than 10m possible through tomorrow afternoon.
