TYPHOON KALMAEGI UPDATE SEPT. 15, 2014, 0430 HRS GMT. Gaining Strength, Wll Hit China Tomorrow Noon, Vietnam Tomorrow Night

Kalamegi is a fast moving storm. It has moved on from the Philippines and now is gathering power in

 the South China Sea.

Earlier we had said that it would hit the area around Zhanjiang in China; But Kalmaegi seems to have changed its mind. It will hit China further south.The eye of the storm will move between Hainan Island and southern tip of Guangdong province tomorrow (Sept. 16, 2014 Noon, Local Time).

Twelve hours after that, (September 16, 2014 night) it will hit Vietnam at Haiphong.

As for the expected rainfall. Hainan Island of China and Northern Vietnam will see a deluge and consequent flooding.

Satellite Image fo Typhoon KALMAEGI taken at 0300 Hrs, September 15, 2014

 XWF RAIN PREDICTION MAP: Hainan Island will get maximum rainfall from Typhoon Kalmaegi

XWF RAIN PREDICTION MAP: North Vietnam Will See Flooding on September 16-17 owing to KALMAEGI

Massive Typhoon KALMAEGI (LUIS) To Hit North Philippines On September 15, 2014

The birth of a storm: Image of tropical depression W15 taken a few hours ago (See the arrow). Typhoon Kalmaegi has been born.

Typhoon KALMAEGI will be at its strongest on September 16, 2014, as it hurtles towards southern China and Vietnam.

A tropical depression has formed east of Philippines. It has been named 15W. An innocuous title. But when one thinks what it is going to turn into one shudders a little.

The system is going to intensify into a raging typhoon. And it is going to hit northern Philippines on September 15th with winds of 185 kph which may peak at a massive 232 kph!

I suppose the Philippines authorities must have already swung into action. The country is no stranger to cyclones but this system is going to be big bad and very mean.

The worst affected areas will be in northern part of the country. Ilocos, Cordillera, and Cagayan Valley will be worst affected. Capital Manila (Quezon City) will escape from the strongest winds but will receive heavy rains.

What is not widely known is that this cyclone Kalmaegi is not going to dissipate after hitting Philippines. It will lose some steam as it cross northern Philippines but will gain strength in the South China Sea. It will then turn into what we call a "monster" storm and move westward. It will hit southern Guangdong province of China with great ferocity on September 17, 2014, noon (local time). The affected areas will be Leizhou, Wushi and perhaps Zhanjiang.

Twelve hours later. September 17, 2014 night Kalmaegi will impact north Vietnam. Haiphong will face the brunt of the fury of the storm. Massive wind speeds and torrential rains will what Haiphong and Hanoi will witness on that night.

XWF Weather Forecast Map: September 14, 2014. Sunday night. Typhoon Kalmaegi about to enter northern Philippines. Note that wind speeds in the maps are in knots. 1 knot is about 1.852 kph. So imagine!

September 17, 2014. Wednesday noon (local time). Kalmaegi about to hit the southern tip of Guangdong province.

The night of September 17, 2014. Wednesday. Kalmaegi hits northern Vietnam. Haiphong will be worst hit.

This is how Kalmaegi will go says JTWC (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Also read: Kalmaegi will be slightly weaker than expected.