Krathon reaches super typhoon strength as it nears Taiwan

Tropical Storm “Krathon” — known in the Philippines as Julian — formed on September 28, 2024, as the 18^th named storm of the 2024 West Pacific typhoon season. Krathon strengthened into a typhoon on September 30 and exhibited eye measuring 37 km (23 miles) in diameter as it passed near Sabtang, Batanes, Philippines.

The Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 for Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province, the eastern portion of Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Aurora, northern and eastern Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, La Union, Quirino, Benguet, and the Polillo Islands shortly after naming the storm.

Signal No. 2 was raised for the northeastern portion of Cagayan and the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands as Krathon intensified into a severe tropical storm, followed by Signal No. 3 for the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands.

On September 29, various local government units announced the suspension of classes on September 30 because of inclement weather caused by the storm, while PAGASA raised Signal No. 4 in Batanes and in Babuyan and Calayan Islands.

Around 1 110 people were evacuated across Cagayan Valley as a Red alert warning was declared in the municipalities of Calayan and Santa Ana in Cagayan. In response to the anticipated rise in water levels from the storm, the Ambuklao, Binga, and Magat Dams opened their gates.

Krathon caused flooding in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur, where one person drowned and another was reported missing due to strong sea currents.

Another person died in Cagayan after being hit by a fallen electric cable knocked down by strong winds. Two families were displaced due to landslides in Baguio, while 26 families were displaced by floods in Abra. Landslides also blocked roads in La Union, Abra and Apayao, while a light aircraft parked at Basco Airport was damaged by strong winds.

On October 1, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 22 645 people were affected, with 1 793 displaced from their homes, while power outages occurred in 16 cities and municipalities, and 38 houses were damaged.

Governor Marilou Cayco announced that around 60% of the 2 463 affected homes are completely damaged, while 40% are partially damaged in Batanes.

By 21:00 UTC on September 30, Krathon intensified into a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon after it attained 1-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). 

At 09:00 UTC on October 1, the center of Typhoon “Krathon” was located about 510 km (320 miles) SSW of Taipei, Taiwan. It had maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph) and was moving NNW at 7 km/h (5 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

JTWC forecasters expect Krathon to track northeastward gradually through the first 36 hours of the forecast period, which extends until 21:00 UTC on October 2, as it remains in a competing steering environment.

Between 21:00 UTC on October 1 and 09:00 UTC on October 3, an upper-level trough will weaken the subtropical ridge (STR) to the west, allowing the steering environment to be influenced by the eastern STR.

Krathon will make landfall between 21:00 UTC on October 3 and 09:00 UTC on October 4 and continue to weaken over land, according to the JTWC. By the time the circulation comes back over water at 09:00 UTC on October 6, the system will be weak after interacting with the Xueshan Mountain Range of northern Taiwan.

The intensity forecast reflects the track, with a slight decrease in intensity as the system remains slow and nearly quasi-stationary, causing significant upwelling of cooler water for the first 24 hours of the forecast.

After landfall, more drastic and continuous weakening is expected until the system weakens to 65 km/h (40 mph) by 09:00 UTC on October 6.

The Taiwanese Central Emergency Operation Center advised the public to avoid traveling to coastal and mountainous areas as precautionary closures swept the island, affecting schools, beaches, national parks, and ferry services.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued shipping warnings in the Bashi Channel, followed by a land warning as Typhoon “Krathon” neared Taiwan.

Several domestic and international flights were canceled, and more than 500 people were evacuated, while nearly 40 000 soldiers were mobilized for rescue efforts on September 30, as Krathon’s outer rain bands triggered mudslides that blocked sections of the Suhua Highway in Hualien County.

As Krathon’s outer rim moves north-northeast across south-southwest Taiwan, all domestic flights scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled, while international flights have been rescheduled, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) announced on Tuesday, October 1.

Additionally, the Kinmen County government’s harbor bureau announced on Facebook that direct ferry services via the mini-three links between Kinmen’s Shuitou Pier and China’s Xiamen and Quanzhou will be suspended on Wednesday, with future schedules subject to weather conditions.

As of 09:00 UTC (17:00 LT) on Tuesday, the center of Krathon was located 190 km (118 miles) south-southwest of Kaohsiung and was moving north-northeast at a speed of 6 – 11 km/h (3 – 7 mph), according to CWA data.

References:

¹ Julian forces evacuations, road closures, work suspensions in Northern Luzon – Rappler – September 30, 2024

² Flights canceled, rescheduled as Taiwan braces for Typhoon Krathon – Focus Taiwan – September 30, 2024

³ Typhoon 20W (Krathon) Warning #17 – JTWC – Issued at 09:00 UTC on October 1, 2024

⁴ Taiwan cancels all domestic flights Wednesday due to Typhoon Krathon – Focus Taiwan – October 1, 2024