Tuesday 22 July 2014

Typhoon Matmo wallops Taiwan - First typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan this year

Typhoon warnings have been issued for most of Taiwan as Typhoon Matmo (Philippines name: Henry) bears down on the island. Matmo is the third typhoon to threaten the western Pacific Basin in less than three weeks.
Typhoon Matmo is the first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan this year. As of Tuesday morning (U.S. time), the center of Matmo was about 150 miles south-southeast of Taipei, which is on the far northern part of Taiwan. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has issued a typhoon warning for the entire main island of Taiwan and the offshore islands of Ludao and Lanyu, southeast of Taiwan.

Taiwan authorities ordered all schools and businesses closed on its east coast Tuesday night, according to Bloomberg.com. The National Fire Agency says 8,000 military personnel have been readied for any needed typhoon-related rescue effort.


Matmo, a Category 2 equivalent tropical cyclone, has already produced strong winds and wrapped heavy rainbands into the mountainous island.
Going ballistic in Chenggong, full on eyewall conditions #typhoon#Matmopic.twitter.com/lfXLPCWPWw
- James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) July 22, 2014
According to the CWB, Lanyu reported a 132-mph wind gust at 4:00 p.m. local time Tuesday. Sustained winds of up to 74 mph have already been reported there.

Lanyu also reported a two-day total of 12.89 inches of rain as of Tuesday (U.S. time). On the southern tip of the main island, 11.14 inches was tallied in Jinfeng, according to the CWB.

Damaging wind gusts downing trees and triggering power outages will continue in Taiwan through at least Wednesday morning, local time. Bands of heavy rain triggering flash flooding and landslides will remain a threat through much of Wednesday, local time, even as the center of Matmo moves into China.

Storm surge flooding is expected along the east coast of Taiwan mainly Tuesday night into early Wednesday.

Just east of Taiwan, the far southwestern islands of Japan (including Ishigakijima) will feel some effects. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued warnings for high waves, and advisories for gale-force winds and thunderstorms, for some of those islands. The main island of Okinawa may see some peripheral effects from high waves and thunderstorms.

Beyond Taiwan, Matmo is expected to make landfall in eastern China somewhere south of Shanghai, most likely in the provinces of Fujian or Zhejiang, Wednesday afternoon, local time. At this time, the nearest pass of the center of Matmo to Shanghai looks to be early Friday, local time (China is 12 hours ahead of U.S. EDT). At that point, Matmo's center is expected to be west of Shanghai and will have been inland for quite some time already, weakening significantly.
Impact: The Philippines

Matmo (known as Henry in the Philippines) may have avoided a landfall in the Philippines, but that doesn't mean there wasn't impact.

Heavy rainbands on the south side of the circulation of Matmo (Henry) may trigger flash flooding and mudslides over northern Luzon, parts of which are still saturated from heavy rainfall from Typhoon Rammasun.

The Philippine national weather agency, PAGASA, has continued a "Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2" for the Batanes Islands, a small group of islands lies about halfway between the country's major northern island, Luzon, and the southern tip of Taiwan. The storm signal means winds of 61-100 kph (38 to 62 mph) are expected to continue. The Batanes Islands have a population of about 16,000.

Basco, capital of the Batanes province, reported sustained northerly winds of 33 mph (just shy of tropical-storm force) as of 10 p.m. EDT Monday (U.S. time).

A "Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1" remains in effect for the Babuyan and Calayan islands off the north coast of Luzon. The storm signal means winds of 30 to 60 kph (19 to 37 mph) are expected to continue. 
 
 http://www.sott.net/article/282396-Typhoon-Matmo-wallops-Taiwan-First-typhoon-to-make-landfall-in-Taiwan-this-year

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