Skip to Content

Super Typhoon Lingling explosively strengthens from CAT2 to CAT4 equivalent

Typhoon Lingling, ongoing between Taiwan and Japan, spectacularly strengthened from a Category 1 to Category 2 equivalent system to a Category 4 equivalent Super Typhoon – in only 6 hours.


Lingling skyrocketed from a CAT2-equivalent to CAT4-equivalent system in only 6 hours late on September 5th! Indeed, satellite imagery showed impressive structure, with a well-developed, extensive central dense overcast and an impressive, well-defined eye. Peak sustained winds increased from 105 mph (169 km/h) to 130 mph (209 km/h). It tracked directly across Miyakojima island (Japan), where veteran hurricane chaser James Reynolds captured spectacular footage – including the rarely observed stadium effect when the eye was tracking across the island.


Below is some great footage by Reynolds of the full force of Lingling, with increasingly powerful winds in successive reports:


Super Typhoon Lingling will track north over the East China Sea into the Yellow Sea in the next two days, likely retaining significant strength. Possible landfall in North Korea early on Saturday, although track is somewhat uncertain.