Typhoon Hagibis strengthens, may aim for Eastern Asia in near future

Following typhoons Tapah and Mitag that brought deadly impacts to eastern Asia for the second half of September, Hagibis is being monitored in the western Pacific Ocean.

A tropical depression that evolved at the beginning of the weekend strengthened into Severe Tropical Storm Hagibis on Sunday night, local time. By the early hours of Monday morning, the storm strengthened to Typhoon Hagibis.

A look at Hagibis churning toward the Mariana Islands on Sunday, local time. (RAMMB)

The region around the Mariana Islands, including Guam, should prepare for increasingly rough surf, as well as gusty winds and heavy rain into early Tuesday. Rainfall will average 3-6 inches closest to the center of this tropical system. Winds closest to the center may even gust up to 100 mph.

The typhoon will be back over the open waters of the Pacific Ocean before the middle of the week, and even more strengthening is likely. There is even a chance Hagibis reaches super typhoon strength on its path toward eastern Asia..

At the earliest, the system could make landfall in eastern Asia next weekend. However, the exact track of the system and any factors that would stand in its path remain uncertain. Interests from Taiwan to Japan should monitor the progress of Hagibis later this week.

"Should the system reach land, it could be a formidable typhoon. Interests in the area should keep an eye on the forecast in the coming days," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk added.

Check back with AccuWeather, as our meteorologists continue to track tropical systems as they develop across the Western Pacific, as well as the other ocean basins across the world.