Severe Typhoon Champi Peaks: Storm-Circle Odds Reach 62% for Keelung and Yilan, Sea Warning Possible Late Wednesday
TAIPEI — Typhoon Champi, the 29th named storm of the year, has strengthened to its peak intensity as it moves across the western Pacific. According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), at 2 a.m. on October 20 the severe typhoon had a central pressure of 910 hPa and was centred at 15.4°N, 136.6°E — about 1,800 kilometres east-southeast of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point — moving west-northwest at 25 km/h. Maximum sustained winds near the centre reached 55 metres per second, with gusts of 68 m/s; the radius of gale-force winds extended 250 km and that of storm-force winds 120 km. The CWA forecast Champi to be about 1,200 km east-southeast of Eluanbi by 2 a.m. on October 21.
In the CWA's 120-hour storm-circle probability outlook released the same day, Keelung City and Yilan County topped the list at 62 percent, followed by Taipei City and Hualien County at 56 percent, New Taipei City at 55 percent and Taoyuan City at 51 percent, with several other counties and cities above 30 percent. The probabilities for northern Taiwan have risen markedly from the October 18 outlook, when Hualien, Green Island and Orchid Island led at 38 percent.
On warning timing, the CWA said a sea typhoon warning could be issued as early as late Wednesday night (October 21), with a land warning possible between Thursday night (October 22) and early Friday (October 23). The track remains uncertain, however, and if the typhoon veers east, the chance of a land warning would fall. GSM reported on October 18 that the CWA then expected an earlier approach; the latest data point to a slightly later warning timetable, with the storm now at peak strength.
From Thursday, the northeast monsoon and the typhoon's outer circulation will bring cooler weather and showers to northern and northeastern Taiwan, with locally heavy rain possible in the northeast and the mountains around greater Taipei. On Friday and Saturday, the typhoon or its circulation is expected to bring rain to the north, northeast and east, with a chance of heavy or torrential downpours in places. The CWA said Champi will gradually weaken as it approaches Taiwan but will remain a severe typhoon, and urged the public to follow the latest forecasts and warnings.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 台风卫星云图（资料图）。照片：NASA GSFC MODIS快速反应团队／Wikimedia Commons（公共领域）。Satellite image of a typhoon over the western Pacific (file photo). Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
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