Super Typhoon Champi, the strongest tropical cyclone of 2026 so far, is churning across the western Pacific towards Taiwan, eastern China and possibly southern Japan. Airlines and ferry operators have cancelled services, and China is preparing to evacuate vulnerable coastal residents.
How strong is it?
Champi peaked at about 296 km/h (185 mph) on 20 October, making it the most intense storm of the year by wind speed, according to The Watchers. It has weakened slightly since but remains extremely powerful:
| Agency | Reading |
|---|---|
| PAGASA (Philippines), 21 Oct, 5pm | Winds 205 km/h, gusts 250 km/h, about 725 km east of Aparri, moving west-northwest at 25 km/h |
| Joint Typhoon Warning Center (US) | 1-minute sustained winds of 278 km/h; 56 km-wide eye; waves near 19.8 m |
| Central Weather Administration (Taiwan) | Central pressure of 900 hPa |
Wind figures differ between agencies because they measure average winds over different time periods. In the Philippines the storm is known locally as "Rosal", and Storm Signal No. 2 is in force over Batanes, where more than 200 mm of rain and waves up to 10 metres are forecast.
Where will it hit?
The track is uncertain. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center rates its confidence as low. Traditional physics-based forecast models show a possible landfall in central or northern Taiwan, while some newer AI-based models curve the storm towards Kyushu in southern Japan, according to The Watchers. A later forecast suggests it may only brush Taiwan's north-east coast.
Taiwan's weather agency issued a sea warning late on 21 October and expected to issue a land warning on the afternoon of 22 October, with the strongest effects on Friday and Saturday, 23–24 October. President William Lai urged people "not to underestimate the storm," the Taipei Times reported.
Travel disruption and evacuations
- Taiwan: China Airlines cancelled six flights between Taiwan and Okinawa, and Tigerair, Mandarin Airlines and Uni Air also cut routes. Ferries between Kinmen and Xiamen are suspended.
- China: Zhejiang province is preparing evacuations, has suspended 36 ferry routes and halted 223 marine construction projects, according to the South China Morning Post as cited by Malay Mail. Fujian ordered fishing boats back to port, and airports serving Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Wenzhou and Xiamen could be disrupted.
- Guam: the storm passed about 16 km south of the island on 18 October, bringing gusts of about 129 km/h and widespread power cuts.
What happens next
South Korea's weather agency expects the storm to move north towards the East China Sea by 25 October and weaken into a low-pressure system by 26 October, bringing rain to Jeju and southern Korea. Travellers in the region should check with airlines and follow local warnings.
