Typhoon Champi unlikely to hit Hong Kong, Observatory says
China's weather agency says a tropical depression east of Guam is set to become Typhoon Champi within 24 hours, possibly reaching super typhoon strength. The Hong Kong Observatory says a direct hit on the city is unlikely, with tropical cyclones not expected to affect Hong Kong for the rest of Octob
China's National Meteorological Center said a tropical depression east of Guam is forecast to become this year's 30th typhoon, Champi, within 24 hours, and it could develop into a super typhoon as it moves west-northwest.
The Hong Kong Observatory said the city is less likely to be hit directly, and tropical cyclones are unlikely to affect Hong Kong for the rest of October. The storm may move toward waters east of Luzon early to mid next week. Its later track remains uncertain, but there is a higher chance it will turn north and pass through waters east of Taiwan.
AI weather models all show Champi making a 90-degree northward turn near eastern Taiwan. Model Pangu forecasts the storm will cross Japan on October 26, while Fuxi and Fengwu show it passing near Tokyo between October 25 and 26.
Separately, Typhoon Koguma in the western North Pacific weakened into an extratropical cyclone on October 14.
Locally, the Observatory said a fresh easterly airstream will bring stronger winds and one or two showers to the Guangdong coast over the next two or three days. As an upper-air anticyclone strengthens, the South China coast should be generally sunny and dry early to mid next week, with hot daytime weather. A northeast monsoon is expected to affect southern China late next week.
The Observatory predicted mostly sunny weather over the next nine days. Saturday will be mostly cloudy with one or two showers, and Sunday will start mostly cloudy with one or two light showers. Next week will be cooler, with the lowest temperature on October 23 dropping to 25 degrees, with sunny periods and dry daytime conditions.