Tropical Storm Ma-on slams Philippines, makes landfall in southern China
In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers help residents move to safer grounds in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province, northern Philippines on Tuesday Aug. 23, 2022. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
Severe Tropical Storm Ma-on brought far-reaching impacts to the Philippines and Southeast Asia after striking the northern Philippines early in the week, then southern China from Thursday into Friday.
Ma-on made landfall roughly 50 miles (80 km) east of Zhanjiang, China, around 11 a.m. local time on Thursday, with sustained winds of 65 mph (105 km/h), qualifying it as a severe tropical storm according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). This was equivalent to a tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Impacts from Ma-on, known as Florita in the Philippines, left at least three dead and four injured earlier this week. Thousands were displaced from their homes in northern portions of the country, according to The Associated Press (AP).
Three villagers in the Cagayan province, located directly in the path of Ma-on, had to be rushed to area hospitals after being struck by falling trees, according to local officials. More than 7,000 people across the province were also evacuated from flood- and mudslide-prone villages.
Hong Kong and several southern China cities placed warnings in effect ahead of Ma-on's arrival. The city's third-highest level of typhoon warning was issued on Wednesday evening, local time, according to Reuters. Officials also warned people to stay indoors.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, 2-4 inches (50-100 mm) of rain fell in parts of the city on Thursday as bands of rain from Ma-on spiraled inland.
According to The Associated Press, multiple Hong Kong schools were closed for a period of time on Thursday. A Hong Kong resident was reportedly injured, while reports of flooding and downed trees were sent to the Hong Kong Government.
Heavier rain amounts up to an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 12 inches (300 mm) will be possible in areas from China's Leizhou Peninsula to northern portions of Hainan island and even into northern Vietnam through Friday night, local time.
Thunderstorms from Ma-on churn over southern Myanmar and Thailand on Thursday, August 25, 2022, after making landfall. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
"Areas of flooding and mudslides are expected in these areas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
Transportation impacts spread across portions of southern China as Ma-on swirled inland. Flights were canceled from 3 a.m. to 2 pm. on Thursday at the airport in Shenzhen, while numerous high-speed rail and ferry services were shut down in Guangdong.
With Ma-on inland across far southern China, northern Vietnam Laos, the storm has lost wind intensity and it now a tropical rainstorm. It can continue to bring heavy rain across these areas into Friday night, then northern Myanmar on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the basin, an even more powerful storm recently churned away over open waters: Typhoon Tokage.
For a time on Wednesday, forecasters said Tokage looked very impressive on satellite imagery. The typhoon had a clearly defined eye at its center of circulation, which is indicative of a potent storm. On Thursday, the storm continued to chug north-northeastward well east of Japan. However, by that night, satellite imagery indicated the storm was rapidly losing wind intensity. Only a matter of hours later, Tokage officially dissipated well out at sea.
Tokage tracks well east of Japan on Thursday, August 25, 2022. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
August has been rather active across the West Pacific as a total of six named tropical storms, including Ma-on and Tokage, have spun in the basin since the start of the month.
Tropical Storm Ma-on was first named on Monday morning, local time, by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The JMA is the official tropical authority for the West Pacific basin.
At the time of its formation as a tropical storm, Ma-on was located just offshore and to the east of Luzon, the northernmost island of the Philippines. Even before it was officially designated, the storm had already begun to unleash periods of enhanced rainfall across large portions of the country. The storm continued to gain strength early this week as it approached landfall.
Ma-on made landfall over the province of Isabela, located in the northeastern Philippines, as a severe tropical storm on Tuesday morning, local time. Depending on the exact strength, a severe tropical storm can be equivalent to either a strong tropical storm or a low-end Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.
As the storm pushed inland over the northern Philippines, it unleashed torrential downpours and some potent wind gusts. On Tuesday, widespread rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches (100-200 mm) fell across much of northern Luzon and even higher totals targeted the region's most mountainous terrain.
"Conditions can remain conducive for additional tropical development in the West Pacific next week," Nicholls said.
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