Updated on August 9, 2015: After causing widespread destruction to life and property in Taiwan, Typhoon Soudelor has made its second landfall over Southeast China. According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Typhoon Soudelor has hit the city of Putian situated in the Fujian Province during late Saturday night. The storm has weakened to quite an extent and now holds the category of a Tropical Storm.
The storm has resulted in heavy rains in Fuzhou along with strong winds. Many flights have also been cancelled. Also, Typhoon alert has been issued in the neighbouring province of Jiangxi. There has been a forecast for heavy rain in some parts of Fujian Province.
Though Soudelor has weakened to a tropical storm, it will still continue to be a threat for the residents across eastern China during the first half of the week
Updated on Aug 8, 2015: Typhoon Soudelor finally made landfall in Taiwan's Hualien County at 5:00 am local time on Saturday. Strong winds were reported in many areas of the country at the time of landfall. Several places received extremely heavy rain as well. More than four feet of rain had been recorded in Taiwan after Soudelor’s landfall.
According to media reports, flooding rain has resulted in about four deaths. About 27 people have also been injured due to the destructive Typhoon. Soudelor no longer holds the position of a super Typhoon, however, it is still equal to a category 2 hurricane.
The capital city of Taiwan, Taipei, has also recorded very heavy rain. Around 320 mm of rain has already been recorded in the city with chances of more rain. Some cities in Taiwan have received more than 500 mm of rain.
Around 2 million people have been without electricity. Flooding is likely in many parts of Taiwan with landslide threat in the areas close to the mountainous terrain of Taiwan. There has been significant damage to trees and many areas have already been waterlogged due to heavy rain. Flight and train services have also been suspended. Offices and schools have also been closed keeping into account the intensity of the storm.
The next target of the Typhoon is East China where it may weaken. However, the Typhoon will still remain strong at the time of its second landfall. The landfall in China is most likely to be in the Fujian Province. Winds will be very strong in China as well, gusting up to 120 kmph.
After affecting parts of East China, Typhoon Soudelor may further merge with a non-tropical system and result in heavy rain over parts of South Korea along with some parts of Japan.
Updated on Aug 7, 2015: The strongest storm of 2015, Soudelor, has weakened but is still strong enough to threaten Taiwan. The island nation is preparing itself to be fully safe and sound if and when the storm makes a direct hit. The storm is expected to make its first landfall in Taiwan today before heading towards East China.
Special shelters are being set up in areas which may get flooded. Also, patients along with pregnant women have been evacuated by the municipal government of Kaohsiung. Also, in the Hualien and Yilan counties, schools along with offices have been closed.
Ferry operators in southeastern Taiwan have suspended their services between Fugang Harbor, Green Island and Orchid Island till Sunday. The holiday cruise style trains have also been cancelled due to its route via mountainous regions which are vulnerable to heavy rains and strong winds.
Super Typhoon Soudelor has caused massive destruction on the island of Saipan. The nation has been declared a disaster area and the entire Saipan is without water and power. Soudelor is expected to not strengthen into a super typhoon again, however, the possibility cannot be ruled out.
Updated on Aug 6, 2015: The strongest storm of the year 2015, typhoon Soudelor has weakened to quite an extent. However, the storm is expected to be quite a powerful tropical cyclone while crossing the West Pacific. Low wind shear and warm water currents will keep the typhoon strong for several days from now.
The storm is expected to now move towards Taiwan and bring heavy rain along with gusty winds. Starting Friday night through Saturday, inclement weather is expected to prevail over Taiwan. Soudelor is expected to make landfall over East coast of Taiwan. The storm is expected to bring periods of rain of about 5 to 10 inches. Nearly 20 inches of rain is likely across the mountainous terrain of Taiwan.
China will also be affected by this strong storm. By late Saturday or early Sunday, Soudelor is likely to make its second landfall in eastern China. The storm may weaken even further by then, but the possibility of very heavy rain and flooding cannot be ruled out. China has issued a yellow warning even before the arrival of Soudelor to make the citizens aware and prepared.
Updated on Aug 4, 2015: Super Typhoon Soudelor, with wind speed of 286 kmph gusting at a whopping 350 kmph has intensified into the strongest storm on the Earth in the year 2015. After affecting Saipan, the pacific island, Soudelor is now routing towards China and Taiwan. The super Typhoon is now a category 5 hurricane. The typhoon intensified from category 2 to a category 4 in just a span of 12 hours.
In Saipan, around 350 people are in shelters, and a state of significant emergency and disaster has been declared. The typhoon resulted in uprooted trees, damaged homes and wrecked electric poles. However, no fatalities have been recorded yet. Soudelor is the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth, after the Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014.
There is also a well-marked eye of the system. The size of the eye depicts the intensity of the storm. It's present position is 18.2°N Latitude and 139.6°E Longitude. Typhoon Soudelor will continue its path and move towards the Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Also, the typhoon is expected to hit Taiwan. It is expected to intensify for the next 24 hours till the time it is in open waters. By Friday, on August 7, the typhoon is expected to make its first landfall and will still be a Category 5 super typhoon.
People of Taiwan are advised to be alert and have been warned to stay away from the coast. The centre of the typhoon may pass over the capital of Taiwan, Taipei. The second landfall may occur on the East China coast on August 8. Furthermore, the storm will go deep inside China. After a while, it will move northwestward towards the Yellow Sea. The storm will then cross the Korean Peninsula to head towards the Sea of Japan.
Image Credit: usatoday.com
