Cholbi Nears Kyushu After Okinawa, Taiwan Disruptions
SingTao · 6 SOURCES17 minutes ago2 MIN
Summary
Tropical Storm Cholbi was on Sunday morning located about 690 kilometres west-southwest of Kagoshima and was forecast to move northeast across the East China Sea while gradually weakening. Japanese forecasters say the storm is likely to approach and possibly make landfall in Kyushu on Monday, before later transitioning into an extratropical cyclone near waters off Shikoku. Even before reaching Kyushu, Cholbi brought severe wind and rain to Okinawa Prefecture’s Sakishima Islands, disrupted transport and forced changes to the large Keen Sword military exercise involving Japan, the United States and other participating countries. The storm had also earlier struck Taiwan, where authorities reported one death, 616 injuries and 977 flight cancellations, while some Hong Kong-Taiwan services were still delayed or rescheduled on Sunday
Key Points
- The Hong Kong Observatory said at 5am Sunday that Cholbi was about 690 kilometres west-southwest of Kagoshima, moving northeast at around 22 kilometres per hour and weakening
- Japan’s weather authorities expect the storm to pass the Sakishima Islands, turn east after crossing the East China Sea, and approach or land in Kyushu on Monday.
- More than 200 flights were cancelled in Okinawa, while Miyako, Ishigaki and Shimojishima airport terminals were shut for the whole day on Thursday, October 23
- The Japan Meteorological Agency warned gusts could reach 216 kilometres per hour, with 24-hour rainfall up to 250 millimetres and waves as high as 12 metres.
- Cholbi disrupted the biennial Keen Sword drill: one Okinawa training event was cancelled, a Tanegashima exercise was scaled back, and two naval port calls were scrapped
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong travellers, the immediate issue is not only Okinawa disruption but also possible knock-on effects for flights, accommodation and local transport in Kyushu as the storm tracks northeast. The Taiwan impact and the adjustments to a major US-Japan exercise also show that Cholbi’s effects are spreading across transport, public safety and regional operations rather than remaining a localised weather event.