PREVIEW

AssetID: 53101855

Headline: Typhoon Koinu Looms Over Taiwan

Caption: On October 4, 2023, Typhoon Koinu, having skirted north of the Philippines, neared the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Weather forecasts indicated that the typhoon was on track to make landfall on the island the following morning. NASA's Aqua satellite, equipped with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor, captured an image of Typhoon Koinu around 1 p.m. local time on October 4. At that time, the typhoon's eye was approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) off the coast of Taiwan, moving westward at a speed of 13 kilometers (8 miles) per hour, according to information from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm boasted sustained wind speeds of an estimated 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, categorizing it as a formidable category 4 hurricane equivalent. Anticipating the arrival of Typhoon Koinu, Taiwanese authorities issued weather alerts, preparing for the onslaught of strong winds and heavy rainfall, primarily affecting the southeastern part of the island. Schools and businesses were closed, flights were canceled, and fishermen took measures to secure their boats, as reported by local news outlets. While the most intense rainfall was predicted to occur in mountainous and sparsely populated regions, the major port city of Kaohsiung was also expected to feel the storm's impact. As Typhoon Koinu moves across land, its interaction with the mountainous terrain is expected to result in a weakening of the storm. The precise trajectory it takes will determine the extent to which the topography influences its intensity. Following this, forecasts indicate that the typhoon will continue to lose strength as it approaches and skirts the coast of China. Even while the typhoon was offshore, its outer edges brought subsiding air, contributing to extreme heat in South China. On October 4, Hong Kong experienced its hottest day on record for the month of October, with temperatures soaring to 34.6 degrees Celsius (94.3 Fahrenheit), as reported by the Hong Kong Observatory. This year has witnessed several typhoons affecting the region, including Mawar in May, Doksuri in July, and Saola and Haikui in September. The Western Pacific typhoon season spans the entire year, though the majority of storms tend to develop between May and October.

Keywords: indian ocean,hurricane,storm,climate change,weather,feature,asia,typhoon,taiwan

PersonInImage: