Super Typhoon Champi peaks with gusts up to 296 km/h, threatening the Philippines and Taiwan

Super Typhoon Champi reached its peak intensity this Wednesday, October 21, over the western Pacific, with sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and extreme gusts of up to 296 kilometers per hour, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone on the planet so far in 2026, regional media reported with weather data.

The system, locally named Rosal in the Philippines, was about 845 kilometers east of Luzon Island. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Signal No. 2 for the Batanes island group, warning of imminent storm-force winds and heavy rains, and kept the provinces of Cagayán, Ilocos Norte and Apayao under Signal No. 1 due to the risk of landslides and flooding.

Port captains in the Eastern Visayas and northern Luzon suspended the departure of fishing and passenger vessels because of heavy seas, with waves exceeding 9 meters in the open ocean.

After passing near the island of Guam, where Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said damage was minimal, the Category 5 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale is moving west-northwest. Taiwan's weather authorities issued maritime warnings over the possible passage of outer torrential rain bands over the island's north and east late this week.

According to data reported by FOX Weather, Champi tied cyclone Sinlaku as one of the most intense storms of 2026 by wind speed, with central pressure dropping near 900 hectopascals. Forecasts indicate the system could head toward Japan's southern islands in the coming days, although its track may still change.

Photo: UHN Plus

Source: UHN Plus