▲ Cheollian-2A satellite imagery showing Typhoon Champi at 11:30 a.m. on the 22nd
The 30th Typhoon Champi is forecasted to have a low probability of heading toward the Korean Peninsula.
However, it will serve as the cause of rain in the Chungcheong and southern regions, centered around the southern provinces and Jeju, from the 23rd to the 25th.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Champi passed waters 710 kilometers southeast of Taipei, Taiwan, with a strength level of 4 at 9 a.m. today (the 22nd).
Champi is expected to move northwestward before turning its direction toward Kyushu, Japan, around the 24th.
As of now, the closest point to the country is expected to be when it passes waters approximately 580 kilometers west-southwest of Kagoshima, Japan, on the 25th.
Accordingly, parts of the southern seas will fall within Champi's strong wind radius, and with typhoon advisories likely to be issued, Champi is projected to be classified as a typhoon affecting the country.
In this case, Champi would become the latest typhoon to affect the country since records began in 1951.
The previous record was held by Typhoon Zeb, which did not land in the country but affected it between October 16 and 18, 1998.
Champi will draw moisture from the south along with the subtropical high pressure southeast of Japan, flowing it into the country and causing rain.
Rain is expected to begin in Jeju on the afternoon of the 23rd, expand to parts of Jeonnam and the southern coast of Gyeongnam by night, and continue in the southern regions and Jeju until the 25th.
Rain is also forecasted for parts of Chungcheong entering the afternoon of the 25th.
The expected precipitation for the two days from the 23rd to the 24th is 30 to 80 millimeters for areas excluding northern and western Jeju, 10 to 40 millimeters for northern and western Jeju, 5 to 30 millimeters for Gwangju, Jeonnam, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, 5 to 20 millimeters for Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and 5 to 10 millimeters for Jeonbuk.
Champi will cause strong winds on land and heavy waves at sea.
Strong winds with momentary gusts exceeding 55 kilometers per hour, and over 70 kilometers per hour in mountainous areas, will blow in Jeju starting from the afternoon of the 23rd and along the southern coast from the 24th.
In the case of Jeju, there may disruptions to flight operations, so information should be checked in advance.
Swells will flow into the coasts of Jeju starting today and the southern coast from the 23rd, causing high waves to push in strongly. Meanwhile, winds will blow strongly at speeds of 30 to 65 kilometers per hour (8 to 18 meters per second) for the time being in the far southern waters of Jeju and the outer far southeastern waters of the East Sea, with waves running high at 1.5 to 4.0 meters and peaking above 5.0 meters.
The possibility of Champi making landfall in the country is small.
First, the sea surface temperatures of the seas surrounding South Korea are too low for a typhoon to maintain its strength.
In addition, Champi is expected to move along the edge of the subtropical high pressure southeast of Japan, and according to current forecasts for this high pressure's strength, Champi has a high probability of heading toward Kyushu.
Jet streams in the upper atmosphere around the country are projected to be very strong around the 25th, and these jet streams blowing rapidly from west to east will block the northward movement of the typhoon.
Of course, there is variability.
If the subtropical high pressure southeast of Japan expands its influence further west than currently expected, Champi might not turn toward Japan from the waters east of Taiwan, but instead come to the country after weakening while passing through Taiwan and southeastern China.
In fact, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts numerical prediction model views this possibility as high.
A low-pressure system weakened from a typhoon can also bring heavy rain and cause damage.
Previously, the record-breaking heavy rain brought to Geoje and other areas during the Liberation Day holiday was also caused by a low-pressure system weakened from the 13th Typhoon Dolphin.
Temperatures will fall below normal levels until the morning of the 23rd, which marks Sanggang (one of the 24 solar terms), before turning to an upward trend.
On the 23rd, morning lows will be 3 to 15°C (37 to 59°F) and daytime highs will be 18 to 23°C (64 to 73°F). On Saturday the 24th, they will be 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F) and 17 to 21°C (63 to 70°F), and on Sunday the 25th, they will be 9 to 17°C (48 to 63°F) and 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F).
Temperatures will drop again around the 27th to the extent that cold wave advisories may be issued, as high pressure expands from the northwest of the country and cold air flows in.
(Photo: Provided by National Meteorological Satellite Center, Yonhap News)
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