Satellite image of Typhoon Khanun caught at 1:20 p.m. Japan Standard Time on July 31, 2023, by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA-20.
Typhoon Khanun approached Chinas coast on the heels of Typhoon Doksuri, which left a path of damage in the days prior.
Following the devastation of Typhoon Doksuri in the Western Pacific, a new storm, Typhoon Khanun, threatens to trigger more damage. The region, still recuperating from Doksuris deadly impacts and substantial flooding, now gets ready for another potential disaster.
Emerging Threat: Typhoon Khanun
Simply days after Typhoon Doksuri knocked the Philippines, Taiwan, and China, another powerful storm was threatening more damage in the Western Pacific area. Tropical storm Khanun was observed magnifying over the Pacific Ocean by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the NOAA-20 satellite. The satellite captured the image above at 1:20 p.m. Japan Standard Time (4:20 Universal Time) on July 31, 2023.
Predictive designs from the previous day recommended Khanuns trajectory pointed at Chinas coast, south of Shanghai, but moving more gradually than formerly anticipated. The typhoon was expected to slow or stall near Okinawa, Japan, before lingering offshore of China for several days. By 9 p.m. Japan Standard Time (12:00 Universal Time) on July 31, Khanun had actually reached classification 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, reported Weather Underground.
Preparations and Potential Impact
Okinawa is bracing for a category 2 or stronger storm at its closest passage. This is expected at some point around August 1, and will bring heavy rain, strong winds, and storm tides. China might see a lower-intensity landfall a number of days later on as Khanun sneaks onward. Some designs show it turning away from land after passing Okinawa. Still, Chinas Zhejiang Province activated a Level IV emergency situation reaction– the most affordable in its system– on July 30 in anticipation of storm rise.
The region has actually had scarce time to recuperate from the impacts of Typhoon Doksuri, which struck greatly inhabited locations south of Khanuns path. The image listed below, obtained on July 27 by VIIRS on NOAA-20, shows the tropical storm after it lashed the Philippines and before it reached China.
Satellite picture of Typhoon Doksuri captured on July 27, 2023, by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA-20.
After-effects of Typhoon Doksuri
Doksuri caused dozens of deaths in the Philippines, according to news reports, arising from landslides, flooding, and a capsized guest ship. Thousands more individuals were displaced. On Taiwan, the storm dropped up to 700 millimeters (28 inches) of rain in some areas.
The tropical storm made landfall near the large cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou, China, on July 28 at about 10 a.m. local time. More than 400,000 people left from coastal locations. From there, the unrelenting rains from Doksuri continued. The storm proceeded north in the ensuing days and triggered severe flooding in Beijing, approximately 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away from Quanzhou. The city taped 177 millimeters (7 inches) of rain, and one station in the far-flung district of Mentougou logged 580 millimeters (23 inches), according to report. The deluge harmed infrastructure and stimulated evacuations and saves.
Tropical cyclones are ranked based upon their wind speed and capacity for damage utilizing the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This is a 1 to 5 rating, or classification system, where each category corresponds to a different wind speed range and damage potential.
Here is the breakdown of the Saffir-Simpson scale:
Its important to keep in mind that this scale determines wind speed but does not take into account other aspects that contribute to the overall seriousness of a storm, such as storm rise, rainfall totals, or the size of the storm. For that reason, even lower category storms can trigger serious damage, particularly in terms of flooding.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using VIIRS information from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).
Simply days after Typhoon Doksuri slammed the Philippines, Taiwan, and China, another powerful storm was threatening more damage in the Western Pacific area. Tropical storm Khanun was observed magnifying over the Pacific Ocean by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the NOAA-20 satellite. The tropical storm was anticipated to slow or stall near Okinawa, Japan, before remaining offshore of China for numerous days. By 9 p.m. Japan Standard Time (12:00 Universal Time) on July 31, Khanun had reached classification 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, reported Weather Underground.
The tropical storm made landfall near the large cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou, China, on July 28 at about 10 a.m. regional time.
Classification 1: Wind speeds of 74-95 mph (119-153 kph). Very dangerous winds will produce some damage.
Category 2: Wind speeds of 96-110 mph (154-177 kph). Very unsafe winds will trigger extensive damage.
Category 3 (Major): Wind speeds of 111-129 mph (178-208 kph). Destructive damage will occur.
Classification 4 (Major): Wind speeds of 130-156 mph (209-251 kph). Catastrophic damage will happen.
Classification 5 (Major): Wind speeds of 157 miles per hour (252 kph) or greater. Catastrophic damage will happen.