The strongest storm of the globe in 2022 so far, is sailing over the open waters of East China Sea. Super typhoon ‘Hinnamnor’ is centered around 21.8°N and 125.3°E, about 500km south-southwest of Kadena, Okinawa- Japan. The typhoon has already crossed abeam Ryukyu Islands (Japan) and is heading slowly southwestward. The super storm, equivalent of Cat-V hurricane in the East China Sea is packed with winds in excess of 260kmh and gusting to 315kmh. The equatorward movement of the system may weaken the storm to a grade lower in the next 24hr when it is likely to become quasi-stationary.
The super typhoon is barreling across East China Sea in the open waters and moving with a speed of about 15kmh. Its further southward movement is likely to be arrested soon and the storm is expected to curl northward after completing the sharp curved dip. The super typhoon is manifested in the satellite imagery as a highly symmetric compact system with deep organized feeder bands, the lifeline of the storms. It has developed a sharp eye with diameter of about 35km in the central dense overcast and circular cloud mass.
The super typhoon may drop its intensity to Cat-IV, in the next 12hr and possibly lose some of its strength to Cat-III, before it swirls again northward in the open sea. Poleward movement in the warm waters of East China Sea, carrying tremendous heat potential with sea surface temperature of 30°-31°C will take the storm to 2nd phase of intensification, albeit still in the open waters.
The typhoon will regain intensity equivalent of Cat-IV hurricane and move initially northward and later northeast, keeping safe distance from the coastline of Taiwan. After sailing in the open waters of East China Sea for 4 days, the typhoon is expected to head for Korea Strait, keeping mainland Japan to its right.
Relatively cooler sea surface and increased wind shear may weaken the storm over Korea Strait. The proximity of land on either side of the track may also lead to entrainment. The exact track with timelines and intensity will be possible after the typhoon commences northward course.
