According to a forecast from the Japan Meteorological Agency, Super Typhoon Hinnamnor, which is now located several hundred kilometres to the east of Okinawa, is anticipated to skirt the Japanese islands this weekend. The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center reports that the storm has sustained winds of around 150 miles per hour (241 kilometres per hour) with gusts of about 184 mph.
According to a JMA official, Hinnamnor would be the storm with the highest wind intensity in 2022 based on the maximum sustained wind speed thus far.
The storm has already impacted Okinawa flights. Wednesday saw the cancellation of flights by Japan Airlines Co. to and from the area, and eight flights have been postponed through Thursday, according to ANA Holdings Inc. Flights could be affected by the typhoon’s path, according to both firms’ warnings.
According to forecasts, the typhoon will pass south of Okinawa by September 2 before turning north and making its way into the island during the weekend. The storm’s future course is uncertain, but forecasts show it could head north next week toward the Korean peninsula, maybe skipping Taiwan and the coast of mainland China.
According to the US JTWC, the super typhoon will gradually lose some of its strength over the next few days.
