Super Typhoon Meranti to strike Taiwan with flooding rain, damaging winds Wednesday
Super Typhoon Meranti is expected to intensify over the next couple of days before pounding Taiwan with flooding rain, damaging winds and dangerous storm surge on Wednesday.
Meranti, currently equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, reached super typhoon status on Monday afternoon local time. A super typhoon is classified when sustained wind speeds hit at least 240 km/h (150 mph).
“Meranti will be traveling through an environment with low wind shear and very warm ocean water which will favor further intensification,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
Damaging winds, torrential rain and mudslides will threaten Taiwan early Wednesday morning into Thursday as Meranti approaches and eventually tracks just to the south of the country.
“Impacts to Taiwan could begin on Tuesday night, local time, but Wednesday seems to be the most likely time for the greatest impacts from Meranti,” Douty said.
Read more: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/typhoon-meranti-to-intensify-b/60033731