Comments on: Update: Super Typhoon Meranti Heads For Mainland China https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/09/12/super-typhoon-meranti-blew-up-fast-heads-for-taiwan-mainland-china/ Sat, 12 Nov 2016 09:17:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Jane Cristina https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/09/12/super-typhoon-meranti-blew-up-fast-heads-for-taiwan-mainland-china/#comment-464308 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 09:17:04 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=22897#comment-464308 Super Typhoon Meranti has become the strongest cyclone, hurricane or typhoon, of 2016 and is one of three most powerful typhoons ever recorded. Typhoon Meranti wrought extensive damage across Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. In Fujian, the storm killed 18 people and left 11 others missing. Typhoon-force winds and flash floods caused tremendous damage, leaving more than ¥16.9 billion (US$2.6 billion) in economic losses.

]]> By: Eric Lund https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/09/12/super-typhoon-meranti-blew-up-fast-heads-for-taiwan-mainland-china/#comment-464307 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:17:13 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=22897#comment-464307

This is the less populated part of the island, but this is a big storm and its effects will be felt over the entire country.

As of Tuesday morning eastern US time (Tuesday evening in Taiwan), the error cone was big enough that Kaohsiung might get the right-hand eyewall. That’s Taiwan’s second largest city, population circa 3 million.

Most of Taiwan consists of mountainous terrain, so flash flooding and landslides are likely to be an issue. There is a tradeoff here: a bad hit on Taiwan will likely soften the blow on mainland China, while an offshore track for Taiwan will mean the storm remains relatively strong until near landfall on the China coast.

]]>