Typhoon Saudel Approaches Japan and Taiwan

Typhoon Saudel was moving slowly toward southern Japan and northern Taiwan on Tuesday, prompting authorities to prepare for heavy rainfall, strong winds and dangerous seas as the storm tracks across the western Pacific. The storm is expected to pass north of Taiwan later this week, while southwestern Japan's Okinawa region faces the possibility of destructive gusts and very rough seas.

Although Saudel has begun to weaken, meteorological agencies continue to warn that the system is capable of producing hazardous weather well away from its center. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) in Taiwan said the storm was expected to come closest to Taiwan on Friday, with its effects beginning as early as Thursday afternoon.

Storm Moves Toward Japan's Southwestern Islands

Japan's weather agency warned of destructive wind gusts as Saudel approached the southwestern islands of Okinawa prefecture. Reuters reported that the typhoon was moving at about 20 kilometres per hour, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 162 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 216 kilometres per hour.

The combination of strong winds, high waves and heavy rainfall presents risks to exposed coastal communities, transport networks and maritime operations. Authorities have urged people in affected areas to remain alert to the possibility of flooding, landslides and rapidly rising rivers.

The storm's approach is particularly significant for Okinawa and the broader Ryukyu island chain, where relatively small islands can experience major disruptions when tropical cyclones bring sustained winds and large swells.

Taiwan Braces for the Storm's Outer Bands

Taiwan is expected to avoid a direct landfall from Saudel under the latest forecast, but the island is still likely to experience substantial effects from the storm's outer circulation.

The CWA said that, as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Saudel's radius had contracted to roughly 220 kilometres from 250 kilometres the previous day. Maximum sustained winds had fallen to about 155 kilometres per hour from 184 kilometres per hour. At that time, the typhoon was approximately 980 kilometres east of Taipei and moving west-northwest at 18 kilometres per hour.

The storm's northward shift, influenced by a Pacific high-pressure system, has reduced the likelihood of a direct strike on Taiwan. However, the CWA warned that Saudel's outer bands could still deliver heavy rain and strong winds, particularly as the system approaches the island later in the week.

Rainfall Threat Is Already Serious

Saudel is arriving while Taiwan is already dealing with an exceptionally wet period and several tropical weather systems. The immediate rainfall threat therefore cannot be considered solely a Saudel problem.

Reuters reported that one person had died and four remained missing after flooding associated with a separate tropical depression in southern and eastern Taiwan. Almost one metre of rain was recorded in Kaohsiung over the three days from Sunday through Tuesday, according to government figures.

That background raises the risk that additional rainfall from Saudel could worsen flooding, particularly in already saturated areas and mountainous terrain where landslides can occur rapidly.

The CWA had heavy-rain and extremely-heavy-rain warnings covering areas including Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung and parts of northern, central and eastern Taiwan. The agency defines an extremely heavy-rain warning as rainfall exceeding 200 millimetres in 24 hours or 100 millimetres within three hours.

Transportation Disrupted

The approaching storm has already disrupted air and sea transportation between Taiwan and Okinawa.

Several airlines announced changes to Tuesday services between Taiwan and Naha. Some flights were brought forward, while others were cancelled or suspended as carriers attempted to move passengers before conditions deteriorated.

China Airlines cancelled several Taiwan-Naha services and moved other flights earlier. Starlux Airlines also rescheduled or suspended selected services, while EVA Air announced ticket-change arrangements for some passengers travelling between Taiwan and Naha.

Maritime transportation has also been affected. Four ferry routes and 55 services were suspended amid heavy rain associated with the combination of weather systems and strong southwesterly winds. The disruptions included services linking Taiwan with offshore islands.

The disruptions illustrate an important characteristic of tropical cyclones: transport impacts can begin well before the center of a storm reaches a particular coastline. Airlines and ferry operators may suspend services because of wind, waves, airport conditions or uncertainty about the return journey.

China's Fujian Coast Next in the Forecast

After passing north of Taiwan, Saudel is forecast to continue toward the coast of Fujian province in eastern China. Reuters reported that the storm could reach the Chinese coast from late Thursday into early Friday.

The storm's arrival could produce another period of dangerous marine conditions in the East China Sea. China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre issued an orange high-wave alert, the country's second-highest warning level, with waves of seven to 12 metres forecast in the eastern part of the East China Sea.

Large waves can pose risks to fishing vessels, commercial shipping, ferries and coastal infrastructure even when the storm's strongest winds remain offshore. The combination of wind-driven waves, storm surge and heavy rain can also complicate coastal emergency operations.

Why the Forecast Can Still Change

Tropical cyclone forecasts become more reliable as a storm approaches, but relatively small changes in its track can produce substantial differences in local conditions. Saudel's projected path is particularly important because a shift north or south could change which parts of Taiwan and Japan experience the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall.

Taiwan's CWA said the influence of a Pacific high-pressure system was helping steer Saudel northward, reducing the probability of a direct landfall in Taiwan. Nevertheless, the agency continued to warn that the storm's outer circulation could affect the island.

This means that residents should not interpret a forecast track showing the storm offshore as an indication that there will be no significant weather. Tropical cyclones can extend hundreds of kilometres from their centers, and rainfall can be especially extensive when a storm interacts with existing monsoon moisture or other weather systems.

Saudel Has a Distinct Regional Name

Saudel is the international name assigned under the western North Pacific tropical-cyclone naming system. Japan's Meteorological Agency lists "Saudel" as a name contributed by Micronesia and explains that it refers to a legendary chief's trusted guard or soldier.

The storm is also known by a local Philippine name, Obet, after entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Different agencies and countries can therefore use different names or numbering conventions for the same tropical cyclone.

Multiple Weather Systems Increase the Risk

One of the biggest concerns for Taiwan is the interaction between Saudel and other weather systems already affecting the island. Heavy rain had been falling across southern and eastern Taiwan before Saudel's closest approach.

This creates a cumulative hazard. A storm that might produce manageable rainfall under ordinary circumstances can become much more dangerous when rivers are already elevated, soil is saturated and drainage systems are under pressure.

Mountainous parts of Taiwan are particularly vulnerable to landslides and debris flows during prolonged or intense rainfall. Urban flooding can also develop quickly when short-duration rainfall overwhelms drainage capacity.

What Authorities and Residents Are Watching

• Storm track: Small changes in Saudel's northward or southward movement could alter the distribution of heavy rain and strong winds.
• Wind intensity: Although the storm has weakened, winds remain strong enough to threaten exposed infrastructure, trees and coastal areas.
• Rainfall totals: Additional rain is particularly concerning in areas that have already experienced flooding.
• River levels and landslides: Authorities are monitoring rising rivers and unstable slopes as heavy rainfall continues.
• Coastal conditions: High waves and strong winds could disrupt ferry services, fishing and other maritime activity.
• Air travel: Flights between Taiwan and Okinawa may face additional cancellations, delays or schedule changes as the storm approaches.
• Chinese coastal conditions: The Fujian coast and nearby waters could face dangerous waves as Saudel moves westward.

A Storm With Wider Regional Consequences

Saudel is not currently forecast to make a direct landfall in Taiwan, but the storm's influence is already being felt across the region. Airlines have adjusted schedules, ferry operators have suspended services and authorities are preparing for potentially dangerous weather.

In Japan, the immediate concern is the storm's approach to Okinawa and other southwestern islands, where destructive gusts, high seas and heavy rain could create dangerous conditions. In Taiwan, the principal concern is increasingly the rainfall and wind associated with the storm's outer bands, particularly because the island is already experiencing severe weather.

Farther west, the potential impact on China's Fujian coast and the East China Sea will depend on how quickly Saudel weakens and exactly where it turns. The forecast of waves reaching as high as 12 metres highlights the potential for significant maritime disruption even if the cyclone loses strength before reaching land.

Outlook

Typhoon Saudel is weakening, but it remains a serious weather threat as it moves toward the southwestern Japanese islands and the waters north of Taiwan. The latest forecasts point to a relatively close pass north of Taiwan rather than a direct landfall, while Okinawa faces stronger winds and dangerous seas.

The greatest immediate concern for Taiwan may be rainfall rather than the typhoon's strongest winds. With parts of the island already affected by flooding and exceptionally heavy precipitation, additional rain could exacerbate river flooding and landslide risks.

The coming days will therefore be closely watched across Japan, Taiwan and eastern China. Even as Saudel loses some strength, its broad circulation, high waves and interaction with existing weather systems mean that the storm could continue to cause substantial disruption well beyond the path of its center.

Sources and Further Reading

The article reflects information available on August 25, 2026. Tropical cyclone forecasts can change rapidly; readers should consult their national meteorological authorities for the latest warnings.

• Reuters — Heavy rain forecast as Typhoon Saudel girds towards Japan and Taiwan
• Focus Taiwan / Central News Agency — Typhoon Saudel weakens, expected to come closest to Taiwan Friday
• Taipei Times / CNA — Typhoon Saudel disrupts today's flights between Taiwan, Okinawa
• Japan Meteorological Agency — official western North Pacific tropical-cyclone naming information
• PAGASA — Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Also Read: Trump–Canada Trade War Worsens

SPONSORED ADS