When it passed Saipan, Super Typhoon Soudelor, developed into the strongest storm of the year.
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“Blue alert” requires half of the agency’s personnel to be ready for contingencies.
Super Typhoon Soudelor is taking aim at Taiwan and China, threatening damaging winds, destructive storm surge and flooding rains.
These typhoons and other tropical depression will most probably contribute to the stronger El Nino weather system that continues to develop in the Pacific, according to meteorologists.
Soudelor is the strongest tempest to obtain been confirmed considering that Super Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014, which likewise had breeze accelerates of 290 kph (180 miles per hour) at its maximum, before it strike the…
Now Soudelor has sustained winds estimated at 120mph with gusts of 150mph or higher.
According to the Central Weather Bureau, Soudelor was centered 1,870 kilometers east-southeast of Taipei at 2 p.m., moving at a speed of 20 kph in a west-northwesterly direction.
The most powerful cyclone of 2015 is in the Pacific Ocean, heading towards Japan, Taiwan and China.
Damages brought about by the typhoon include the destruction of power lines and the local power plant, forcing the island’s acting governor Ralph Torres to declare a “state of major disaster and significant emergency”, according to local radio station The Pacific Beat.
Pama said the super typhoon will not directly affect the Philippines and is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat that will affect the Visayas and Mindanao.
The storm is expected to track toward northern Taiwan and hit mainland China in about four days’ time, although it will have weakened by then, NASA said. However, some forecasters expect that even in the sheltered capital of Taipei wind gusts of reaching 75mph should be expected.
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Thankfully it looks unlikely that typhoon Soudelor will regain Category 5 status again before reaching Taiwan.
