Typhoon Champi, the 30th typhoon of the season, has shifted from its expected path and is now forecast to approach waters south of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Strong gusts are forecast for southwestern Japan, while Jeju and the southern seas may feel indirect effects from the storm, prompting warnings for weekend travelers.
Super Typhoon With 905 hPa Pressure Moves North; Okinawa Braces for Gusts of 60 Meters per Second
According to Tenki, a weather information site operated by the Japan Weather Association, Typhoon Champi is expected to pass through waters south of Okinawa on the 22nd and approach Japan's Sakishima Islands on the 23rd and 24th.
Typhoon information released by the Korea Meteorological Administration at 4 p.m. on the 21st showed that Champi was moving northwest about 880 kilometers south of Okinawa as of 3 p.m.
Its central pressure stood at 905 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds near the center of 58 meters per second, or 209 kilometers per hour. That places it at the highest level on Korea's own five-tier typhoon intensity scale, which the Korea Meteorological Administration classifies as "super strong" and is not equivalent to the U.S. Saffir-Simpson Category 5.
Champi is expected to maintain its strength through the 22nd as it passes through waters south of Okinawa. It is then forecast to weaken gradually as it approaches waters east of Taiwan.
In Japan, attention has turned to the possibility that a stalled autumn rain front will intensify as the typhoon moves north. Heavy rain could fall on Kyushu and other parts of western Japan even before the storm draws close.
Strong winds are forecast for Okinawa starting on the 23rd. Maximum instantaneous wind speeds could reach 60 meters per second, raising concerns that some homes could collapse.
Expected to Head for China, Storm Changes Course; Forecast to Come Within 460 Kilometers of Southern Jeju on the 25th
The shift in the typhoon's projected path has drawn attention to its potential impact on the Korean Peninsula.
Weather agencies in several countries, including the Korea Meteorological Administration, had initially expected Champi to move toward China after passing northern Taiwan. But a high-pressure system stretching from inland China to Japan weakened faster than anticipated, opening a path for the typhoon to turn northeast.
After passing near Taiwan, Champi is expected to move northeast and come within about 460 kilometers of the waters south-southwest of Seogwipo, Jeju, around 3 p.m. on the 25th.
The storm is expected to weaken considerably as it moves north, however. By the time it nears the waters south of Jeju, its maximum wind speed is forecast to drop to about 86 kilometers per hour and its intensity to the lowest of the five tiers on Korea's typhoon intensity scale.
Weather agencies broadly agree that the typhoon will change direction off northern Taiwan. Forecasts diverge, however, on whether it will then move closer to the Korean Peninsula or head toward Japan's Kyushu.
The Japan Weather Association forecast that Champi will enter the East China Sea on the 24th, turn from north-northeast to northeast, and become an extratropical cyclone near the Korea Strait on the 26th.
Waves of Up to 3.5 Meters Off Jeju; Rain Forecast for Southern Regions Over the Weekend
Even if the typhoon does not make landfall on the Korean Peninsula, strong winds and high waves could develop around Jeju and in the southern seas.
The Jeju Coast Guard Station and the Seogwipo Coast Guard Station issued a "watch" under the coastal safety risk forecast system for three days beginning on the 21st. Winds of 9 to 15 meters per second are expected off Jeju, with waves rising as high as 3.5 meters.
The coast guard asked the public to stay away from shorelines and hazardous areas and to take particular care near the coast if weather conditions deteriorate.
Rain is also in the forecast for Jeju and southern regions this weekend. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's medium-range outlook, rain is expected on the 24th in the Jeolla and Gyeongsang regions in the south and on Jeju. On the 25th, the rain is forecast to spread to the Chungcheong region and other southern areas as well as Jeju. The rain is expected to continue through the morning of the 26th.
The typhoon's actual impact may change depending on its future path and intensity. Those planning weekend travel to Jeju or maritime operations should check the latest weather information.