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U.S. editionThe Central Weather Administration issued a sea typhoon warning for Strong Typhoon Champi at 11:30 p.m. on the 21st, Liberty Times reported. The first wave covers the waters off northeastern and southeastern Taiwan (including Orchid Island and Green Island) and the Bashi Channel. The Weather Administration expects Champi to come closest to Taiwan on the 23rd and, if the track holds, a land typhoon warning could come as early as around noon on the 22nd. Liberty Times reported that Taiwan’s land area is still within the track’s margin of error and that the typhoon may strengthen as it approaches. The report says the chance of the typhoon striking northern Taiwan is about 60%, with Yilan, Hualien and the north on alert. Taipei Times reported that the Weather Administration warned Friday and Saturday are the two days of strongest impact; Champi may weaken, but the risk of big waves remains. Other reports say wind and rain in 17 counties and cities meet the threshold for work and school closures, and that the ballot-number draw for Hsinchu County candidates will be moved to 10/27 if work and school closures are declared.
Typhoon warnings come in two stages, sea and land. Once a land warning is issued, it means the typhoon’s storm circle is expected to reach Taiwan’s land, and counties’ and cities’ assessments of closures, farm protection and transport arrangements follow. With the track inside the margin of error, a slight shift west or east changes the wind and rain each area gets and the range of day-off announcements.
If you live in the north, Yilan or Hualien, watch for the land warning around noon today and check your county or city government’s announcement on closing work and schools. If you have business trips, flights or outdoor plans from Thursday to Saturday, first confirm whether flights and events have been adjusted.
The Weather Administration and the Taiwan Typhoon Forum lean toward raising the guard: the storm circle could be very large, a force-7 circle could cover all of Taiwan, and the chance of striking the north is 60%, so typhoon supplies and schedules should be prepared early.
Taipei Times also notes that Champi may weaken, and with the track still carrying some error, the degree of impact and the range of work and school closures will shift with each forecast update; the current forecast is not final.
What is confirmed is that the sea warning is out and the Weather Administration expects the closest approach on the 23rd; what is unconfirmed is when the land warning will actually be issued, which counties and cities are on alert, and whether each will close work and schools. The Weather Administration’s announcement around noon today and the county and city government notices are the two things most worth watching.
Liberty Times (Champi sea warning and track report, Oct. 22) · Taipei Times (Weather Administration warns of two days of impact, Oct. 22)
Strong Typhoon Champi closes in, sea warning issued, land warning as early as around noon today
The Weather Administration expects Champi to come closest to Taiwan on the 23rd, with Yilan, Hualien and the north on alert and about a 60% chance the typhoon strikes northern Taiwan.
The Central Weather Administration issued a sea typhoon warning for Strong Typhoon Champi at 11:30 p.m. on the 21st, Liberty Times reported. The first wave covers the waters off northeastern Taiwan, the waters off southeastern Taiwan (including Orchid Island and Green Island) and the Bashi Channel. The Weather Administration said Champi is expected to come closest to Taiwan on the 23rd and that, if the track holds, a land typhoon warning could come as early as around noon on the 22nd; other reports say the land warning is expected in the afternoon. Liberty Times also reported that the Weather Administration cautioned that Taiwan’s land area is still within Champi’s track “margin of error,” that the typhoon may strengthen and its storm circle widen as it nears Taiwan, and that Friday is when it comes closest. The Weather Administration also noted that Champi’s track has been revised slightly westward from earlier forecasts, so Yilan, Hualien and the north must raise their guard, and the chance of the typhoon striking northern Taiwan remains 60%.
On work and school closures, Liberty Times reported that the Weather Administration assessed that wind and rain in 17 counties and cities meet the threshold for closures. Taipei Times reported that the Weather Administration warned that Friday and Saturday are the two days of strongest impact; although Champi may weaken, officials still warned of the risk of big waves. The Taiwan Typhoon Forum said a force-7 storm circle could cover all of Taiwan and set out when the wind and rain will be fiercest, Liberty Times reported. Because of the typhoon, the ballot-number draw for Hsinchu County candidates in the nine-in-one elections will be moved to 10/27 if work and school closures are declared; the Taiwan Series also announced a revised schedule that depends on whether Taipei City closes work and schools; and the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station offered farmers ways to protect crops against the typhoon. Whether the land warning is issued and how the alert area is adjusted must wait for the Weather Administration’s latest announcement around noon, and is not yet confirmed.