Powerful Typhoon Haishen closing in on Japan, South Korea
Powerful Typhoon Haishen closing in on Japan, South Korea
By
Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 3, 2020 2:33 PM EDT
Powerful winds and heavy rain lashed Busan, South Korea, overnight on Sept. 3. At least one fatality was reported. Winds were recorded up to 105 mph.
Typhoon Haishen is bearing down on Japan and South Korea, and the storm's timing couldn't be worse, as it comes right on the heels of Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall in South Korea early Thursday, Sept. 3, local time.
Haishen became the first super typhoon of the season in the western Pacific Ocean late this past week, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Despite losing some wind intensity and no longer holding that status, Haishen remains a powerful and dangerous typhoon as it nears land.
The Korean Peninsula is bracing for its third significant typhoon strike within a week's time following Maysak and Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall in North Korea on Aug. 27. Residents still recovering from those two powerful storms will have little time to prepare for Haishen.
Tracking in an area of light wind shear and very warm ocean waters, Haishen surpassed Maysak as the strongest storm in the West Pacific so far this season. The former super typhoon was packing 10-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) as of Saturday afternoon, local time. This is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale.
A satellite view of Typhoon Haishen bearing down on Japan during Saturday afternoon, local time. (CIRA/RAMMB)
CIRA/RAMMB
"Haishen could follow right behind Maysak and aim for southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula this weekend, bringing a second dose of tropical impacts," explained AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.
"This has the potential to be particularly devastating for some parts of southern Japan and South Korea as two strong typhoons, both the equivalent of major hurricanes in the Atlantic, could strike in almost the same spot in less than a week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda warned.
“Any building or infrastructure that is weakened or sustained minor damage from Maysak could then be taken out by Haishen. There simply will not be enough time to repair and reinforce things,” Sojda added.
Areas expected to be at the greatest risk from Haishen will be from the northern Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu in Japan into southern and eastern South Korea.
On Thursday, Japanese officials told residents to brace for impacts from the storm, urging many to evacuate their homes, reported the Japan Times.
"People in affected areas should not hesitate to evacuate their homes and find shelter, even though they may be worried about becoming infected with the new coronavirus," the official said.
The well-defined eye of Haishen could be seen on satellite on Friday night after the storm strengthened into a super typhoon over the Philippine Sea. (CIRA/RAMMB)
These areas could go through devastating impacts in terms of widespread power outages, flooding, mudslides and extensive wind damage.
Because of these anticipated impacts, Haishen is expected to be a 4 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Tropical Cyclones in Japan and a 4 in South Korea. The RealImpact™ Scale is a six-point scale with ratings of less-than-1 and 1 to 5.
In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. The scale covers not only wind speed, but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss. This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods.
Meteorologist Robert Speta, a Western Pacific weather expert, stated that Typhoon Haishen could rival Hurricane Laura, a storm that made landfall along the Louisiana coast in August, as the strongest storm on the planet in 2020.
Haishen is expected to be the equivalent strength to that of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale while crossing southern Japan and a Category 3 equivalent typhoon when making landfall in South Korea. Wind gusts in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph) are expected in both of these areas.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 240 km/h (150 mph) is possible and most likely across the northern Ryukyu Islands or the southern coast of Kyushu, dependent on the final track of Haishen.
In addition to becoming the strongest typhoon so far this year, Haishen is forecast to become the fifth named tropical system to make landfall in South Korea in 2020. Should this happen, the five landfalls would break the record number of landfalls in the country in a single year.
According to Nicholls, Haishen would also be the fourth tropical system to impact the Korean Peninsula in the past 30 days.
Widespread heavy rain will also fall across southern Japan, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. Rainfall from Haishen, in addition to the recent heavy rain from Maysak, could lead to significant and widespread flooding.
Many areas along the path of the storm are expected to receive 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 400 mm (16 inches) is possible across southern Japan.
Widespread flooding across North Korea and China could lead to significant agricultural impacts and crop loss.
North Korea is a country that relies heavily on agriculture, so the threat for widespread flooding may put a strain on the country's food supply.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Hurricane
Powerful Typhoon Haishen closing in on Japan, South Korea
Powerful Typhoon Haishen closing in on Japan, South Korea
By Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 3, 2020 2:33 PM EDT
Powerful winds and heavy rain lashed Busan, South Korea, overnight on Sept. 3. At least one fatality was reported. Winds were recorded up to 105 mph.
Typhoon Haishen is bearing down on Japan and South Korea, and the storm's timing couldn't be worse, as it comes right on the heels of Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall in South Korea early Thursday, Sept. 3, local time.
Haishen became the first super typhoon of the season in the western Pacific Ocean late this past week, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Despite losing some wind intensity and no longer holding that status, Haishen remains a powerful and dangerous typhoon as it nears land.
The Korean Peninsula is bracing for its third significant typhoon strike within a week's time following Maysak and Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall in North Korea on Aug. 27. Residents still recovering from those two powerful storms will have little time to prepare for Haishen.
Tracking in an area of light wind shear and very warm ocean waters, Haishen surpassed Maysak as the strongest storm in the West Pacific so far this season. The former super typhoon was packing 10-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) as of Saturday afternoon, local time. This is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale.
A satellite view of Typhoon Haishen bearing down on Japan during Saturday afternoon, local time. (CIRA/RAMMB)
"Haishen could follow right behind Maysak and aim for southern Japan and the Korean Peninsula this weekend, bringing a second dose of tropical impacts," explained AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.
"This has the potential to be particularly devastating for some parts of southern Japan and South Korea as two strong typhoons, both the equivalent of major hurricanes in the Atlantic, could strike in almost the same spot in less than a week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda warned.
“Any building or infrastructure that is weakened or sustained minor damage from Maysak could then be taken out by Haishen. There simply will not be enough time to repair and reinforce things,” Sojda added.
Areas expected to be at the greatest risk from Haishen will be from the northern Ryukyu Islands and southern Kyushu in Japan into southern and eastern South Korea.
On Thursday, Japanese officials told residents to brace for impacts from the storm, urging many to evacuate their homes, reported the Japan Times.
"People in affected areas should not hesitate to evacuate their homes and find shelter, even though they may be worried about becoming infected with the new coronavirus," the official said.
The well-defined eye of Haishen could be seen on satellite on Friday night after the storm strengthened into a super typhoon over the Philippine Sea. (CIRA/RAMMB)
These areas could go through devastating impacts in terms of widespread power outages, flooding, mudslides and extensive wind damage.
Because of these anticipated impacts, Haishen is expected to be a 4 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Tropical Cyclones in Japan and a 4 in South Korea. The RealImpact™ Scale is a six-point scale with ratings of less-than-1 and 1 to 5.
In comparison to the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, which has been used by meteorologists for decades and classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. The scale covers not only wind speed, but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss. This communicates a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods.
Meteorologist Robert Speta, a Western Pacific weather expert, stated that Typhoon Haishen could rival Hurricane Laura, a storm that made landfall along the Louisiana coast in August, as the strongest storm on the planet in 2020.
Haishen is expected to be the equivalent strength to that of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale while crossing southern Japan and a Category 3 equivalent typhoon when making landfall in South Korea. Wind gusts in excess of 160 km/h (100 mph) are expected in both of these areas.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 240 km/h (150 mph) is possible and most likely across the northern Ryukyu Islands or the southern coast of Kyushu, dependent on the final track of Haishen.
In addition to becoming the strongest typhoon so far this year, Haishen is forecast to become the fifth named tropical system to make landfall in South Korea in 2020. Should this happen, the five landfalls would break the record number of landfalls in the country in a single year.
According to Nicholls, Haishen would also be the fourth tropical system to impact the Korean Peninsula in the past 30 days.
Related:
Widespread heavy rain will also fall across southern Japan, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. Rainfall from Haishen, in addition to the recent heavy rain from Maysak, could lead to significant and widespread flooding.
Many areas along the path of the storm are expected to receive 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 400 mm (16 inches) is possible across southern Japan.
Widespread flooding across North Korea and China could lead to significant agricultural impacts and crop loss.
North Korea is a country that relies heavily on agriculture, so the threat for widespread flooding may put a strain on the country's food supply.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo