Scientists have observed that ocean warming due to climate change is contributing to the rapid intensification of storms, leading to the formation of super typhoons with devastating power, such as Yagi.
Super Typhoon Yagi is currently recognized as the second strongest tropical storm in the world for 2024, coming in just behind Category 5 Hurricane Beryl in the Atlantic.
Weather experts note that this storm marks many “milestones.” Yagi has exhibited an unprecedented rate of intensification in the history of meteorology in Vietnam, reaching super typhoon status in just 48 hours.
This also marks the third time in history that a level 4 (red) disaster risk warning has been issued, and for the first time ever, a level 4 warning has been utilized in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Scientists indicate that storms are becoming more powerful, partly due to warmer oceans in the context of climate change, according to Reuters.
On September 5, experts pointed out that Typhoon Yagi had wind speeds of up to 240 km/h, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic, and was only 11 km/h away from reaching Category 5 status, CNN reported.
However, just one day prior, Yagi was still classified as a tropical storm with a maximum wind speed of 90 km/h.
One of the Strongest Storms of the Year
Typhoon Yagi initially formed from a tropical depression offshore from the Philippines and later peaked with sustained winds of up to 150 mph (approximately 240 km/h, equivalent to a Category 4 storm), according to Wired.
At least 13 people have died in the Philippines due to flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall on Hainan Island in China, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to many areas along the southern coast of the country.
Chinese state media reported that over 410,000 people in Hainan and 670,000 people in Guangdong Province were evacuated due to the storm.
Across Hainan, schools, businesses, restaurants, and beaches have closed, while public transport, including trains and flights, has been suspended.
Similar measures have been adopted in several cities in neighboring provinces such as Guangdong and Guangxi.
On Chinese social media, residents of Hainan shared videos capturing the fierce storm sweeping across the island on the evening of September 5, alongside flashes of lightning illuminating the night sky.
Lightning strikes on Hainan Island on the night of September 5.
Videos released by local media show large waves crashing against the shore. Waves as high as 7 meters are expected to appear near the coasts of Hainan and Guangdong starting the afternoon of September 6, according to China’s maritime forecasting agency.
“Yagi may be the strongest storm to make landfall on the southern coast of China since 2014, making flood prevention efforts very challenging,” Xinhua News Agency quoted officials from China’s disaster prevention meeting.
The storm is expected to maintain its strength as it makes landfall again in northern Vietnam.
Areas Prone to Strong Storms
According to Wired, super typhoon Yagi is not as rare as many might think. The Western Pacific region is an area with ideal conditions for “nurturing” some of the strongest storms on Earth.
Tropical storms develop through a special process as low-pressure systems. They intensify when moving over warm ocean waters.
These storms can last for several days or even weeks as long as warm sea water and favorable atmospheric conditions are present.
Super typhoons frequently occur in the Western Pacific. From 1945 to 2022, hundreds of super typhoons have been recorded in this region.
More than 200 of these reached the strength equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. In 2021, there were four Category 5 super typhoons in the Western Pacific, one of which was Super Typhoon Rai, which claimed the lives of over 400 people when it made landfall in northern Philippines after peaking.
Compared to the Atlantic, the frequency of strong Category 5 storms in the Western Pacific is significantly higher. During the same time period, the Atlantic had only 30 storms that reached Category 5 strength at any given time. These storms also tend to maintain peak strength for shorter durations.
What makes the Western Pacific an ideal environment for strong storms?
As mentioned, warmer sea surface temperatures are seen as a catalyst for increasing storm strength. This is particularly concerning as Southeast Asia, along with many other regions around the world, has witnessed elevated sea surface temperatures over the past 12 months.
According to Wired, sea temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius or higher can provide enough energy for a storm to reach maximum strength. Currently, sea temperatures around the Philippines average over 31 degrees Celsius.
Other conditions, such as abundant atmospheric moisture, are also crucial for storm development. A newly forming tropical storm also requires calm winds in the surrounding atmosphere.
In the Atlantic, these conditions are not as commonly met. Dry air from the Sahara Desert often suppresses developing storms. Cold air outbreaks from the United States can create unfavorable atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic for tropical storm development.
However, the situation is quite different in the Western Pacific, where the hot and humid tropical climate of Southeast Asia prevails year-round.
This allows dozens of storms to form each season. The large number of storms increases the likelihood that one of them can peak and develop into a super typhoon, causing severe damage upon landfall.
- How to Track Typhoon Yagi on Your Phone
- Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi) Sets Unprecedented Records in Vietnamese Meteorology
- Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi) Strengthens into a Super Typhoon: When Will It Make Landfall?
- Images of ‘Lightning Rain’ Over Hainan Island (China) as Typhoon Yagi Approaches
- Tonight, Super Typhoon Yagi Hits the Gulf of Tonkin, Bringing Heavy Rain and Storms
