Typhoons Impacting Travel in Western Pacific Ocean

After making landfall in the northern Philippines Sunday morning, meteorologists believe Typhoon Sarika is on a projected course toward southern China and Vietnam where it will dump heavy rain and damaging winds early this week.

In addition, forecasters believe Typhoon Haima in the Pacific Ocean could form into a super typhoon and threaten the northern Philippines and then eastern China.

According to Weather.com, Typhoon Sarika is being pushed by a high-pressure system in the South China Sea, and the storm is expected to make landfall on Hainan Island in China by Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Sarika is then expected to impact northern Vietnam and southern mainland China, with the typhoon bringing high winds, heavy rainfall and more flooding.

Animation of Himawari-8 visible satellite imagery with sun rising on Typhoon #Haima & Typhoon #Sarika in the W Pacific near the Philippines. pic.twitter.com/y9iTyegPbQ

— NWS OPC (@NWSOPC) October 17, 2016

As for Typhoon Haima, the storm is expected to be the stronger of the two weather systems due to several factors including low wind shear and warm, deep ocean water. With the possibility of becoming a super typhoon by Tuesday, Haima could become the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane en route to a possible landfall in the Philippines Wednesday.

Haimi in the western Pacific Ocean has strengthened rapidly to a 130mph typhoon. Could hit the Philippines as a 150mph super typhoon. pic.twitter.com/EWeY4AVcR2

— Collin Gross (@CollinGrossWx) October 17, 2016

After the Philippines, Typhoon Haima is expected to pass south of Taiwan late Thursday into Friday before making landfall in southeast China later in the week. Hong Kong has also been put on notice due to the storm.

For both storms, travel is expected to be impacted as it has been with the last several typhoons in the region. With flights and rail travel suffering delays and cancellations due to Typhoons Nepartak, Meranti and Megi, similar travel issues should be expected as Typhoons Sarika and Haima make landfall.

The United States Department of State has also issued a travel alert to American citizens during cyclone season in the South Pacific, running from Nov. 1, through April 30, 2017. While the alert doesn’t take effect until November, travelers should still be very cautious about the region due to the recent string of storms.

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