Super Typhoon Chanthu Makes Landfalls in Philippines before Heading to Taiwan

On Saturday, Super Typhoon Chanthu made landfall in the far northern Philippines, bringing with it devastating winds and heavy rain.

Chanthu, also known as Kiko in the Philippines, was one of the most powerful storms of the year, with sustained winds of 260 kilometres per hour (160 miles per hour) before landfall, equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane at its peak.

The storm is likely to hit Taiwan later Saturday, prompting authorities to issue land and sea warnings for the entire main island, rather than just southern Pingtung and Taitung County.

According to the Philippine meteorological office PAGASA, Chanthu made landfall over the Batanes islands about 8:30 a.m. local time. It issued a Signal 4 warning for the Batanes area, which means "very damaging typhoon-force winds."

On September 10, motorists pass a bridge in Cauayan, Isabela province, northern Philippines, as the river begins to surge due to impending Super Typhoon Chanthu.

At landfall, the northeastern Babuyan Islands, which are also in the far north of the archipelago, were under a Signal 3 warning, with "damaging typhoon-force gusts" forecast, until being downgraded to a Signal 2.

Throughout Saturday, impacted areas should expect torrential rain and a moderate to high chance of a "life-threatening storm surge" of 2 to 3 metres. Due to the heavy rain, there is also a risk of flash flooding and landslides.

The capital city of Manila, to the south, has been warned of increased monsoon rains.

On Saturday, Chanthu is expected to travel north into Taiwan, weakening somewhat.

PAGASA reported the typhoon had decreased significantly as of 11 a.m. local time, but it was still a dangerous system with maximum sustained winds of 205 kph (127 mph) and gusts of 250 kph (155 mph). It reported that the storm had diminished considerably by 2 p.m.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Chanthu formed on September 6. On September 7, the storm suffered one of the most dramatic instances of rapid intensification ever recorded, with wind speeds climbing by 80 knots in just 24 hours. When a storm gains at least 30 knots (35 mph) of wind speed in less than 24 hours, it is said to have rapidly intensified.

After Surigae in April, this is the second storm of the year to attain Super Typhoon classification.

According to Reuters, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau downgraded Chanthu to a medium typhoon on Saturday, saying it was losing intensity as it moved along the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines.

As the storm approaches Taiwan's southern shore, weather conditions are predicted to worsen, but the Central Weather Bureau says it is unlikely to make direct landfall.

Central Weather Bureau forecaster Wu Wan-hua told Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency on Thursday that severe rain was expected in the southern section of the island.

In Taiwan's mountainous terrain, this quantity of heavy rainfall might cause flash flooding and mudslides.

According to Reuters, Taiwanese airlines cancelled Saturday afternoon domestic flights, with relatively minor disruptions to foreign routes.

The land interaction might weaken the system considerably more as Chanthu tracks down Taiwan's east coast, but it will remain a severe typhoon as it strikes Taiwan during a 24-hour period.

The system is expected to diminish as it moves north toward China through early next week, according to the official prediction. By Monday or Tuesday, Chanthu might stall close off the coast of Shanghai, bringing heavy rain and flooding concerns to the region.