{"id":38694,"date":"2023-10-04T17:49:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T00:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cww7news.com\/?p=38694"},"modified":"2023-10-04T17:49:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T00:49:02","slug":"category-4-typhoon-koinu-to-strike-southern-taiwan-on-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cww7news.com\/category-4-typhoon-koinu-to-strike-southern-taiwan-on-thursday\/","title":{"rendered":"Category 4 Typhoon Koinu to strike southern Taiwan on Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Typhoon Koinu, a storm equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, was closing in on southern Taiwan after it strengthened more quickly than anticipated Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The storm, packing 130 mph sustained winds, is forecast to bring torrential rains that could trigger floods and landslides, in addition to dangerous seas on Thursday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A remarkably intense wind gust of 213 mph<\/a> was recorded Wednesday night on Orchid Island, a volcanic island east of southern Taiwan, at the top of a 1,000 foot hill<\/a>. If confirmed, this would be one of the strongest wind gusts ever measured on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the storm crosses southern Taiwan, its peak winds are forecast to slip to 120 mph, but will remain more than strong enough to topple trees and damage homes and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After passing Taiwan, Koinu may ultimately follow a path toward southeast China and Hong Kong this weekend into early next week. Although it should weaken significantly by then, its slow movement could allow it to unload flooding rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In advance of the storm, roughly 100 flights to and from Taiwan were canceled Wednesday, as were a similar number of local ferries, according to<\/a> the Associated Press. Schools were also closed in coastal regions and on outlying islands as conditions deteriorated through the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n