Citizens of China and Taiwan are preparing for what Asian meteorological authorities are calling the world's strongest storm this year.
According to Bloomberg, tropical cyclone Usagi has been upgraded to a super typhoon, the China Meteorological Administration reported. The typhoon headed toward the southern coast of China on Friday, and is slated to hit Taiwan, Hong Kong and other areas of China before making landfall on Monday.
The Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan released both sea and land warnings on Thursday, urging citizens to stay inside as the typhoon creeps closer to the island. By 4:15 p.m. local time yesterday, Usagi's eye was just 400 kilometers off of Tawian's southern tip, with harsh winds blowing at about 152 miles per hour.
Taiwan moved their storm warning to orange on Thursday, the second-highest level of storm severity, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
A super typhoon is the most powerful tropical cyclone on the spectrum, the China Meteorological Administration told Bloomberg. Wind speeds could reach up to 185 kilometers per hour.
Usagi will hit Hong Kong when it reaches the coast on Saturday, with a "strong likelihood" that flights in the city's airport will be canceled.
Airline Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said in a press released that travelers should defer their trips to a later date, with waived rebooking fees during the period of the typhoon.
Some parts of the Philippines have already been hit by the typhoon - 242 people from 69 households left their homes on Wednesday, after massive flooding caused families to relocate to temporary shelters on higher ground.
Taiwan is affected by an average of seven typhoons annually. Between July and September, the island is hit by the highest frequency of storms. Usagi would be the fourth typhoon in Taiwan this year.
Track the storm here.
