Super Typhoon Trami Forms, Poses Danger to Taiwan and Japan

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September 24, 2018Updated: September 24, 2018

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Typhoon Trami has formed in the Pacific Ocean, and it may hit Taiwan and southern Japan.

The storm is currently equal to a Category 4 hurricane if it were located in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific oceans, according to AccuWeather.

Trami, known as Typhoon Paeng in the Philippines, is slated to strengthen to possibly a Category 5 typhoon by Sept. 25. It will remain over the open ocean, allowing it to strengthen.

CNN reported that the storm could have 168 mph winds if it hits Taiwan on Sept. 28 or Sept. 29.

Nowhere on Earth tops the Philippine Sea for rapid intensification. These two images from the Himawari-8 satellite were taken 24 hours apart at 1210Z when #Trami was a 65 mph #tropical storm Saturday AM, and now a Cat. 4 #typhoon Sunday AM. (Images: CIRA/RAMMB via JMA) pic.twitter.com/vYJ7xqHjTb

— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) September 23, 2018

FocusTaiwan reported that the storm is located about 600 miles east-southeast from the southernmost tip of Taiwan, and it is moving west-northwest toward Japan’s Ryukyu Islands at around 10 mph. The FocusTaiwan report noted that the storm may not hit Taiwan and there are too many variables to make the prediction. According to The Weather Channel, Trami is about 500 miles south-southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

Weather forecasters say that interests in Taiwan, Japan, and southeastern China should closely monitor this storm.

trami typhoon noaa taiwan — Typhoon Trami has formed in the Pacific Ocean, and now, Taiwan is preparing for its impact. (NOAA)

“Residents and anyone with interests across Taiwan and Japan need to keep an eye on this storm,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards said.

“Trami is currently strengthening and looks to be a super typhoon within the next 12 hours,” CNN meteorologist Michael Guy wrote in the report. “The storm is forecast to continue to move towards the west-northwest and take a turn towards the north—the timing of the turn is still uncertain since that is a few days out.”

The formation of the storm comes about one week after Super Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Philippines (the top video shows Mangkhut hitting the Philippines last week), Hong Kong, and southern China. At least 100 people died in the storm, according to the CNN report.

According to Taiwan News, Trami is the 24th cyclone of the season.