Extremely dangerous Typhoon “Yagi” makes a direct hit on Haikou, China
Featured image: Typhoon "Yagi" at 10:10 UTC on September 6, 2024. Credit: JMA/Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
Extremely dangerous Typhoon “Yagi” made landfall in Hainan, China just before 07:00 UTC on September 6, 2024, with maximum sustained winds of 234 km/h (145 mph). Yagi reached Wenchang City (population 575 000) in Hainan at 08:00 UTC and Haikou (population 3 million) by around 10:00 UTC.
The Baojin Primary School Station in Wenchang City recorded a minimum air pressure of 921.7 hPa, breaking the record for the lowest sea level pressure measured on land in China.
The lowest sea level pressure measured at Haikou Meteorological Station was 931.5 hPa — making it the lowest measured pressure in any major Chinese city. The maximum gust measured in the city was 210 km/h (131 mph).
Ahead of the landfall, Chinese authorities shut down schools, businesses, and transport in regions affected by Yagi, and urged over 10 million people not to venture out until the threat passes. At least 420 000 people in Hainan were evacuated before landfall.
About an hour before landfall, Hainan officials reported more than 830 000 homes lost power, and organized a team of 7 000 to start repairs as soon as conditions improve.
A remarkable satellite image – the eye of #typhoon #yagi almost directly over the city of Haikou, with a population of over 3m people, the textbook tropical cyclone symbol, the curved banding almost looks like it's been painted by a brush – just, wow! pic.twitter.com/kKV9TXSJJO
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) September 6, 2024
#Yagi joined an elite group of only 3 other Hainan Island, China, #typhoons of at least Cat. 4 intensity.
— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) September 6, 2024
Rammasun (July 2014) was the only other since the mid-20th century. pic.twitter.com/F5zmerDweN
Incredible scenes in Hainan Province, China, as winds likely exceeding 130 mph tear through a city of 3 million people. #Yagi strengthened when it should have weakened, leading to a severe, and potentially devastating, impact. pic.twitter.com/YdM4nZHsX4
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) September 6, 2024
#Yagi has emerged over the Gulf of Tonkin, likely still at major Typhoon status. It has around 18 hours before it’s final landfall near Haiphong, Vietnam. Likely as a Category 2 or 3 Typhoon, with major storm surge and strong winds. Deeper convection re-appearing in outer eyewall… pic.twitter.com/RmOgWmcIKD
— Riley (@IPTCWCDirector) September 6, 2024
After moving over Hainan, Yagi crossed Qiongzhou Strait and made its second landfall in China’s Guangdong with winds still exceeding 200 km/h (125 mph).
In Guangdong, more than 574 500 people had been evacuated from areas at risk. Most of them from the city of Zhanjiang.
After an impressive period of extremely rapid intensification, Yagi peaked at about 250 – 260 km/h (155 – 160 miles) around 21:00 UTC on September 4 — making it a super typhoon, the strongest typhoon of the year in West Pacific and the second strongest storm globally in 2024. It has since weakened while undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) and then slightly intensified again.
This is the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan since Typhoon “Rammasun” in 2014. Ramasun resulted in the deaths of 88 people in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan.
After 03:00 UTC on September 7, Yagi will slowly weaken as it approaches Vietnam, with landfall over northern Vietnam expected around 15:00 UTC, according to the JTWC.
As the system tracks into northern Vietnam and Laos, it will weaken rapidly and dissipate.
While still a tropical storm, Yagi struck Luzon Island, Philippines on September 2, bringing heavy rainfall that left at least 16 people dead.
References:
1 Typhoon 12W (Yagi) Warning #21 – JTWC – Issued at 15:00 UTC on September 6, 2024
2 Super Typhoon Yagi roars into China’s Hainan, disrupting lives of millions – Reuters – September 6, 2024
3 FOCUS | Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in south China’s Hainan – Xinhua – September 6, 2024
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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