UpdateSuper Typhoon Soudelor is the biggest storm of the year – and it’s heading straight for China
Super Typhoon Soudelor developed into the world's most powerful storm of the year yesterday as it took aim at Taiwan and the mainland after battering the Northern Marianas.
Super Typhoon Soudelor developed into the world's most powerful storm of the year yesterday as it took aim at Taiwan and the mainland after battering the Northern Marianas.
The storm was roaring across the western Pacific Ocean packing wind gusts of up to 354km/h according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, which rated it a maximum category five.
UPDATE: Typhoon Warning Centre downgrades Soudelor but Hong Kong Observatory disagrees
It was stronger than Cyclone Pam, the previous strongest storm of 2015, which killed at least 15 people when it slammed into Vanuatu, also in the Pacific, five months ago.
It was expected to be downgraded to category four or three by the time it hits Taiwan and the mainland late tomorrow.
"The city will however be affected by the outer-subsiding air of the typhoon, which will bring hot weather, hazy skies, and between Thursday and Saturday, some rain and thunderstorms," said Observatory scientific officer Yeung Wai-lung.