Typhoon “Gaemi” intensifies into a super typhoon, makes a loop before striking Taiwan

Typhoon “Gaemi” — known as Carina in the Philippines — made landfall on Taiwan’s east coast near Hualien City on July 24, 2024, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and gusts to 250 km/h (155 mph). Gaemi is the fourth named storm and the second typhoon of the 2024 West Pacific typhoon season.

• This storm is considered one of the strongest to impact Taiwan in recent years​.
• The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 17:00 LT bulletin on Wednesday that Gaemi (Carina) reached maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), and gusts up to 230 km/h (145 mph) on July 23, making it a super typhoon.
• Gaemi is expected to weaken as it moves over Taiwan’s mountainous terrain but will likely regain strength before making a second landfall in Fujian, China.

At least 3 fatalities and more than 200 injured people have been reported so far. Authorities are bracing for potential landslides and flash flooding, especially in areas destabilized by a significant earthquake in April.

The storm has forced the cancellation of Taiwan’s largest annual military drills, along with almost all domestic flights and more than 200 international flights.

The government has declared July 24 a typhoon day, suspending work and classes across the island except for the Kinmen islands. Financial markets are shut, and work and school will remain suspended for a second day on Thursday.

Gaemi deviated considerably south from its expected path and made a rare counterclockwise mini-loop before making landfall:

Whilst #typhoon #Gaemi performs its cyclonic loop offshore Taiwan I’m gonna grab a strategic few hours sleep and should it make landfall near Suao, get working the storm again. A radar loop for the ages this one… pic.twitter.com/4VELr94tBF

— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) July 24, 2024

Not only is #TyphoonGaemi's mini-loop off the east coast of #Taiwan a meteorological case study, the mountains have only barely disrupted the cyclone's symmetry and it still has a closed, intact, intense eyewall. https://t.co/pK3EMVUtlw pic.twitter.com/jBA53YFacr

— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) July 24, 2024

Sometimes, the track deflection isn't just a turn to the south as it approaches the island… there are historical examples of typhoons making entire loops along the east coast of #Taiwan.
This is Figure 1c from the Hsu et al. (2018) paper: https://t.co/PTfuuIVqNp#TyphoonGaemi https://t.co/Ptizcy4en4 pic.twitter.com/1lamIxkwQk

— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) July 24, 2024

While #TyphoonGaemi is playing games just offshore of the coast, extreme rainfall accumulations continue to cause major issues for #Taiwan

Genuinely, some of the heaviest rain I've ever seen from a tropical cyclone. It's been unrelenting @JordanHallWX pic.twitter.com/askdQowLlZ

— Jason H (AU) (@OreboundImages) July 24, 2024

The Central Weather Administration has issued a warning for all of Taiwan, predicting extreme torrential rainfall (over 500 mm / 20 inches) over much of the country in 24 hours.

More than 8 000 people have been evacuated from high-risk mountain areas due to the threat of landslides from torrential rain.

Taipei residents have cleared supermarket shelves in anticipation of price hikes post-typhoon.

The Taiwan defense ministry has put 29 000 soldiers on standby for disaster relief efforts, and fishing boats have been recalled, and air travelers have rushed to board flights before further cancellations.

In addition to Taiwan, Gaemi has caused heavy rainfall in the Philippines, leading to severe flooding in Manila. A total of 13 deaths were reported across the country as of July 23.

Even though Gaemi stayed away from the Philippines, it enhanced the southwest monsoon, causing heavy rainfall for portions of Northern Luzon and Metro Manila.

In response, Metro Manila has been placed in a state of calamity, halting work, classes, and trading activities.

#Filipinas Varias barcazas chocan con un puente en Quezón City, mientras el río Marikina continúa desbordándose. El río Marikina alcanzó los 20,6 metros a las 16:00 horas del miércoles, producto de las fuertes lluvias que está dejando el tifón.#CarinaPH #TyphoonGaemi pic.twitter.com/iE8Zp7SsAJ

— Centinela35 (@Centinela_35) July 24, 2024

Gaemi is expected to bring significant rainfall to Fujian Province, China, on July 25, with predictions of 300 mm (12 inches) of rain.

Numerous flights in Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa prefecture have been grounded due to the typhoon.

Gaemi is expected to weaken as it moves over Taiwan’s mountainous terrain but will likely regain strength before making a second landfall in Fujian, China.

The water resources ministry in China has warned of heavy rains lasting until July 31, driven by the typhoon’s abundant moisture.

References:

¹ Typhoon Gaemi makes landfall in Taiwan – BBC – July 24, 2024

² Typhoon Gaemi strengthens as it nears Taiwan, two dead, work halted – Reuters – July 24, 2024

³ Taiwan prepares for a strong typhoon that worsened monsoon rains in the Philippines, killing 13 – AP – July 24, 2024