Taiwan issues land warning as Typhoon Champi nears northeast coast

Satellite view of Typhoon Champi over the western Pacific on October 20, 2026. — NOAA-20 VIIRS imagery / NOAA; via Wikimedia Commons (cropped to 1280 × 720)

Summary

Taiwan issued a land warning Thursday as Champi approached from the Philippine Sea; forecasts put its closest pass near the island’s northeast late Friday.
The Hong Kong Observatory’s 10:00 HKT bulletin located the storm at 20.3N, 126.0E, east of Taiwan, and classified it as a super typhoon with 210 km/h maximum sustained winds.
Authorities warned of waves over six metres and very heavy rain in northern mountain areas; flights and some ferry and tourist services have been suspended.
Whether Champi makes landfall, the scale of damage, and any casualties are not yet established in the reporting reviewed.

Warning issued as the storm advances

Taiwan issued a land warning Thursday as Typhoon Champi moved toward the island, with forecasters expecting the storm to pass closest to the northeastern coast late Friday. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the system remained dangerous despite some weakening. Reuters, citing the CWA, reported gusts above 227 km/h near Champi’s center and a wind field about 320 km in radius. Those figures describe the storm’s circulation and do not mean the same conditions are expected across Taiwan.^{[1] [2]}

The Hong Kong Observatory’s 10 a.m. local-time bulletin placed Champi at 20.3 degrees north, 126.0 degrees east—about 1,250 km east of Hong Kong—and classified it as a super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds near the center of 210 km/h. HKO forecast it toward waters east of Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, then projected a weakening trend as it moved north. Agencies use different wind averaging periods and classification scales, so intensity labels and estimates can vary; the track and local warnings are more useful for judging immediate risk.^[3]

Rain, waves and disrupted travel

Taiwanese authorities warned coastal communities of waves exceeding six metres and forecast nearly one metre of cumulative rain in northern mountain areas, including hills near Taipei, Reuters reported. The CWA’s warnings are especially consequential for exposed coasts and steep terrain, where high surf, flooding and landslides can occur even if the storm’s eye stays offshore. The Taipei Times, reporting with Taiwan’s Central News Agency, said authorities had suspended some transport services, closed tourist destinations and prepared flood-control measures. These are precautionary actions, not evidence that the forecast damage has already occurred.^{[1] [4]}

Travel disruption was already reported. Taiwan’s transport ministry said 125 flights, mostly domestic, were cancelled Thursday, while the rail network was operating at the time of Reuters’ report. Japanese carriers had cancelled more than 100 flights through the weekend, affecting over 11,000 passengers, Reuters said. Taipei Times also described Taiwan–Okinawa flight cancellations and ferry suspensions. Schedules may change further as the storm approaches, so travelers should check directly with carriers and local authorities.^{[1] [4]}

Track and impacts remain unsettled

The immediate forecast is not fully aligned across agencies. Reuters said Taiwan’s forecast track showed Champi skirting the island’s northeast before turning north toward the Chinese coast and eventually southern Japan. The South China Morning Post, citing China’s National Meteorological Centre, reported a forecast of landfall along Taiwan’s eastern coast around Saturday. That difference underscores why a landfall should not yet be presented as settled: the storm’s position, track forecasts and warnings can change as new observations arrive.^{[1] [5]}

As of the latest sources reviewed for this update, the storm remains active and its closest approach has not occurred. Reuters said no resident evacuations had yet been reported in Taiwan at publication, but the reporting reviewed does not establish a final damage assessment, casualty count, or whether Champi will make landfall. The CWA advises people to use its official warning bulletins for local wind and rain guidance rather than infer conditions from a track map alone. This report will need updating as the storm passes and authorities confirm effects on the ground.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Reporting sources

This article follows our editorial standards. To report an error, see our corrections policy.