Super Typhoon Meranti Packing 180 MPH Winds, Dangerous Threat to Taiwan, China and Northern Philippines

https://weather.com/storms/typhoon/news/tropical-depression-sixteen-w-tropical-storm-typhoon-meranti-sep2016

Published: Sep 13 2016 11:30 PM EDT

Published:
Sep 13 2016 11:30 PM EDT

Story Highlights

Super Typhoon Meranti remains a Category 5 in the western Pacific Ocean.

Significant impacts from this dangerous typhoon are likely in Taiwan, the northern Philippines and southeast China.

Sustained winds were 180 mph, with gusts up to 220 mph, as of Tuesday night, U.S. time.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Meranti became the strongest tropical cyclone anywhere on the globe so far in 2016.

Super Typhoon Meranti remains a very intense Category 5 as it heads west-northwest on a path that will likely take its eye just south of southern Taiwan on Wednesday, local time.

Maximum sustained winds were 180 mph as of 11 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon, Meranti peaked at 190-mph sustained winds. This tied Typhoon Tip as the second-strongest tropical cyclone in the northwest Pacific since 1970, and made it the strongest tropical cyclone anywhere on the globe so far in 2016.

As of Tuesday night (EDT), or midday Wednesday Taiwan time, Meranti was centered about 250 miles south-southwest of Taipei, Taiwan.

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According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, maximum significant wave heights near the center of Meranti are currently around 48 feet. In addition, the system is packing wind gusts up to 220 mph over open water.

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Taiwan is 12 hours ahead of U.S. EDT

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Note: Meranti is Known as Ferdie in the Philippines

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Well to the east of Meranti is Malakas in the western Pacific.

It could threaten parts of Japan later this week, possibly as a typhoon.