Hurricane Tracker Shows Typhoon Saudel Flooding Coastal China After Third Landfall
Multiple severe weather events are occurring globally, including severe thunderstorms in the United States, extremely heavy rain in northern Taiwan, and flooding from Typhoon Saudel in coastal China, amid warnings of a strengthening El Niño that is intensifying extreme weather patterns as tracked on hurricane tracker systems.
Active Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in the US
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Sussex County, Delaware, with a storm near Henlopen Acres moving east at 45 mph and producing 60 mph wind gusts that could damage roofs, siding, trees, and power lines. [1] Locations impacted include Millsboro, Lewes, Milton, Millville, Henlopen Acres, Cape Henlopen State Park, Long Neck, Ocean View, South Bethany, and Dewey Beach. [1] The hazard stems from radar-indicated conditions capable of causing such damage. [1]
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is also in effect for the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, with a storm near Germantown moving southeast at 25 mph bringing 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail capable of damaging vehicles, roofs, siding, and trees. [2] Locations impacted include Northern Milwaukee, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Brown Deer, Grafton, Cedarburg, Sussex, Jackson, Fox Point, Slinger, Bayside, Thiensville, Germantown, Glendale, Butler, River Hills, Lannon, and Ri. [2] The hail damage to vehicles is expected along with the wind impacts. [2]
Heavy Rain Warnings Across Northern Taiwan
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued extremely heavy rain warnings for Keelung, northern New Taipei City, and northern Taipei, with over 150mm of rain recorded in some areas since midnight, raising risks of landslides, flooding, and strong gusts. [3] The extremely heavy rain warning indicates at least 200mm of rainfall in 24 hours or 100mm in three hours. [3] Heavy rain advisories cover the southern half of Taipei, most of New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Yilan County, defined as accumulated rainfall of at least 80mm in 24 hours or 40mm in one hour. [3] People should be aware of the possibility of lightning and strong gusts throughout the day. [3] The agency warned of possible landslides, falling rocks and sudden rises in river levels in mountainous areas across Taiwan, especially given the persistent rain over the past few days, and of flooding in low-lying areas. [3] As of 10:40am, more than 150mm of rainfall had accumulated at weather stations in Jinshan and Shimen in New Taipei City and Nuannuan and Cidu in Keelung since midnight. [3]
Flooding and Damage from Typhoon Saudel in China
Typhoon Saudel caused torrential rain and flooding in China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces, swamping vehicles, collapsing a three-storey building, and prompting evacuations of hundreds of thousands, including over 83,000 in Fujian. [4] Saudel made its third landfall along the coast of Fujian on Thursday morning after intensifying again over the South China Sea. [4] It is the seventh typhoon to hit China this year and the third to strike the city of Yuhuan in eastern Zhejiang in less than two months. [4] In Fujian's city of Fuding, firefighters waded through waist-deep floodwaters to carry elderly people to safety. [4] In nearby Jinxi village, raging floodwaters inundated residential buildings and brought down a three-storey house. [4] Local authorities have shut schools, suspended public transport and enforced emergency flood protocols across multiple coastal areas. [4] Hundreds of thousands of people have been relocated across Zhejiang and nearby provinces since late August. [4] In Putian, a city in Fujian where the Mulan River flows through the urban core, floodwaters spilled over main highways, damaged bridge structures, and inundated residential buildings. [4] Local authorities are organising rescue teams to evacuate trapped residents, with some people reported missing. [4]
El Niño Driving Unusual Typhoon Activity
Experts link the rare frequency of typhoons striking China this year, including Saudel as the seventh, to a strong El Niño that is shifting typhoon tracks and could extend the season into December. [4] During an El Niño year, the Western Pacific subtropical high is exceptionally strong and positioned further north, guiding typhoons along a northwest trajectory directly toward China's eastern coast. [4] The United Nations warned that the El Niño was set to intensify further into 2027 and could be the strongest ever, raising the risk of prolonged extreme weather. [4] Super El Niño conditions shift typhoon formation further east. [4] This typhoon season could extend into December, rather than the usual end in October or November, because of an extended period of warm weather. [4] Stronger typhoons form towards the east and travel long distances, getting much stronger when they reach land. [4]
Forecast for Improving Conditions
Independent weather expert Wu Der-rong said northern and eastern Taiwan would see intermittent rain through Sunday, with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. [3] The weather would generally improve from next Monday to Thursday, especially in southern Taiwan, as a large low-pressure system is expected to shift east of Taiwan, leading to the arrival of northeasterly winds. [3] Northern and eastern Taiwan would be mostly cloudy with occasional showers, while southwestern Taiwan would be mostly sunny to partly cloudy during that period. [3] The UN Secretary General warned that the world is entering a danger zone of extreme weather just as three hurricanes formed over the Pacific Ocean, pointing to a very-strong El Niño layered over already warm oceans. [5]
What to watch next: Northern and eastern Taiwan will see intermittent rain through Sunday with possible afternoon thunderstorms before general improvement from Monday to Thursday, while the El Niño is forecast to intensify further into 2027 and could extend the typhoon season into December.
