Typhoon Kajiki brought wind and rain to Hainan on Sunday.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Kajiki was located at latitude 17.5°N and longitude 109.8°E which put the center about 50 miles (80 km) south-southeast of Sanya, China.  Kajiki was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Typhoon Kajiki rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale during Saturday night.  A circular eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) formed at the center of Kajiki’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Kajiki.  Storms near the center of Kajiki generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The circulation around Typhoon Kajiki became more symmetrical when it rapidly intensified.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Kajiki’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Typhoon Kajiki.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Kajiki is 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 11.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 29.1.  Typhoon Kajiki is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Sally when Sally hit South Alabama in 2020.

Typhoon Kajiki will move through an environment that is favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Kajiki will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kajiki’s circulation.  The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the northeast.  So, there will be little vertical wind shear.  Typhoon Kajiki will intensify during the next 24 hours as long as the center remains south of Hainan.  Kajiki could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoom Kajiki will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China.  The high pressure system will steer Kajiki toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Kajiki will continue to pass south of Hainan during the next 12 hours.  Kajiki will hit the coast of  northern Vietnam in 24 hours.

Typhoon Kajiki will continue bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hainan during the next 12 hours.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Typhoon Kajiki will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to northern Vietnam.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods there as well.  Typhoon Kajiki could cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along the coast of northern Vietnam.