Super Typhoon Champi passed within about 10 miles of Guam’s southern tip on Sunday, dealing the island a glancing blow that left widespread power outages and knocked the radar at Andersen Air Force Base offline briefly, according to reports. Three storm-related hospital cases were recorded, and a presidential emergency declaration triggered FEMA activation. Guam’s public schools will remain closed on Monday, October 19, for damage inspections.
The storm weakened slightly after the near-miss but has begun re-intensifying toward super-typhoon strength as it moves toward eastern Asia. Forecast tracks put the system near eastern Taiwan waters by October 22–23, while the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) says it will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday, October 20, where it will be given the local name Rosal.
In its 11 a.m. Monday bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon was carrying maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h with gusts to 215 km/h, moving west-northwest at 20 km/h, with typhoon-force winds extending 720 km from its center. Heavy rain is expected in Extreme Northern Luzon, and a gale warning is likely Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, according to the agency. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals could be raised in Northern Luzon and Bicol as early as Monday evening, with a highest-scenario assessment of Signal No. 3 to 4.
The Hong Kong Observatory reported about 62 m/s maximum winds and a central pressure of 915 hPa at 11 a.m. on October 18, and put the chance of a direct Hong Kong hit at under 30 percent.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the storm is expected to approach eastern Taiwan waters on October 22–23, and a land warning could be issued if the wind field draws near. Forecasters are tracking a split in the possible track — one path bending west toward the southeast China coast, another curving north toward the Ryukyus and the East China Sea.
Why it matters
A major landfall risk is now forming for Taiwan and the northern Philippines inside a 48-to-72-hour window. For residents of Northern Luzon, Bicol and eastern Taiwan, the preparedness window is now — clearing drainage, securing loose objects, and planning for possible power outages and flooding before conditions deteriorate midweek. The storm is also compounding disruption in Guam, where crews are still restoring power and inspecting school facilities damaged by Sunday’s near-miss.
What happens next
This is a developing weather story. PAGASA is expected to issue updated wind signals and a possible gale warning by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, and Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration will decide whether a land warning is warranted as the storm approaches eastern Taiwan waters around October 22–23. The eventual track — toward southeast China or the Ryukyus and East China Sea — will determine which coastlines take the brunt, and forecasters caution that typhoon tracks this far out can still shift significantly.
