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Typhoon Malakas (Formerly Bagyong Gener) is currently moving through the East China Sea affecting parts of Taiwan and the Southern Japanese Islands. The typhoon's center was last located approximately 130km east northeast of Taipei, Taiwan or about 500km west southwest of Naha, Japan. Maximum sustained winds are at 205kph with gusts of up to 250kph making Malakas a Category 3 Typhoon in the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Typhoon Malakas is moving northward at 15kph.
IR Image from NOAA
Latest satellite image shows the eye has become clouded once again and the overall circulation has degraded over the past 12 hours. This is most likely due to the interaction with the topography of Taiwan as well as a slight increase in wind shear in the area. Despite the "weakening", Typhoon Malakas managed to bring some very strong winds across the Yaeyema Islands of Japan. Latest data showed some of the islands received wind gusts of up to 220kph as the eyewall moved through the area earlier this morning.
Radar Image from CWB
As with any tropical cyclone, rain is a major threat along with strong winds. Latest radar image from Taiwan shows the bulk of the heavy rains associated with Malakas are over water. Outer rain bands are still impacting Northern and Central Taiwan, including the city of Taipei. Rains should slowly move northward, along with the system, over the next 12 hours and rainfall accumulations are not going to be as high as when Meranti hit Taiwan less than a week ago.
For the latest radar image out of Taiwan, please click HERE (CWB Taiwan)
Typhoon Malakas is forecast to turn to the northeast and possibly retain its intensity as it makes its way towards Mainland Japan. Current forecast consensus is taking Malakas towards the island of Kyushu as early as Tuesday morning. If we don't see any significant weakening until then, we may see a Category 1 make landfall in the said island.
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