Tag Archives: Typhoon Megi

Powerful Typhoon Megi Nearing Landfall on Taiwan

Powerful Typhoon Megi is within a few hours of making landfall on the east coast of Taiwan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Megi was located at latitude 23.3°N and longitude 122.6°E which put it about 175 miles (280 km) southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Megi was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (230 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 947 mb.

Megi is a large powerful typhoon and it is the equivalent of a major hurricane.  It has a big circular eye with a diameter of about 60 miles (95 km).  Winds to typhoon force extend out about 50 miles (80 km) from the center and winds to tropical storm force extend out over 200 miles (320 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Megi is 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 21.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 41.7.  Those indices suggest that Typhoon Megi is capable of causing widespread major wind damage.  The HII for Typhoon Megi is the same as the HII for Hurricane Rita when it made landfall in Louisiana in 2005.  The HSI for Megi is slightly smaller than the HSI for Rita.  Thus, Typhoon Megi is as intense as Hurricane Rita was when it made landfall, but Megi is slightly smaller than Rita was in 2005.

A subtropical ridge is steering Typhoon Megi toward the northwest.  Typhoon Megi will make landfall on the east coast of Taiwan near Hualien in a few hours.  Megi will cross Taiwan and it will make a second landfall on the east coast of China near Quanzhou and Xiamen in about 24 hours.  Typhoon Megi will bring strong winds and very heavy rain to the northern two thirds of Taiwan.  The heavy rain will create a serious risk for flash flooding.  Megi will weaken as it crosses Taiwan,   Typhoon Megi will also bring gusty winds and heavy rain when it reaches the east coast of China.  Typhoon Meranti caused serious damage in parts of Fujian province and Typhoon Megi will bring heavy rain to some of those same areas.  The northern side of Typhoon Megi may also bring gusty winds to the southernmost Ryukyu Islands.

Typhoon Megi Strengthens As It Moves Closer to Taiwan

Typhoon Megi strengthened quickly on Saturday as it moved steadily closer to Taiwan.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Typhoon Megi was located at latitude 19.4°N and longitude 131.0°E which put it about 685 miles (1105 km) east-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Megi was moving toward the west northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (205 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 963 mb.

Megi is a large well organized typhoon.  Winds to typhoon force extend out about 50 miles (80 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out more than 200 miles (320 km) from the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Megi is 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 18.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 36.5.

The circulation of Typhoon Megi is very symmetrical.  Numerous bands of thunderstorms are rotating around the center.  A circular eye appears to be forming at the center of circulation.  Thunderstorms near the center and in the rainbands are generating upper level divergence which is pumping out large quantities of mass in all directions.

Typhoon Megi is moving through a very favorable environment.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Megi is likely to continue to intensify and it could become the equivalent of a major hurricane on Sunday.

Typhoon Megi is moving southwest of a subtropical ridge which is steering it toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for several more days.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Megi will approach Taiwan in about 48 hours.

Typhoon Megi is large and dangerous typhoon.  It is likely to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan.