Violent Typhoon Champi is forecast to bring violent winds, high waves and torrential rain to Okinawa’s Sakishima Islands, with rainfall potentially reaching 300 millimeters in 24 hours. The storm is expected to move north across the East China Sea before approaching Kyushu as an extratropical cyclone early next week, while heavy rain could also affect areas near Honshu. 

Weather officials called on people to stay vigilant as Typhoon Champi is expected to bring extremely severe weather to the Sakishima Islands of Okinawa Prefecture on October 23.The large and powerful typhoon is currently moving westward over waters south of Okinawa. By the afternoon of October 23, it is forecast to approach the Sakishima Islands, including Ishigaki Island.

The typhoon is then expected to move north across the East China Sea before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone near Kyushu on October 26. However, the associated low-pressure system could bring widespread heavy rain across Japan’s main island of Honshu as well.

The Sakishima Islands are forecast to experience maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 55 meters per second and waves as high as 11 meters between October 23 and October 24. Rainfall could reach 300 millimeters. Authorities are urging residents to exercise extreme caution against violent winds, high waves, storm surges and heavy rain.

Flight cancellations are also mounting as Typhoon Champi approaches.

The Japan Airlines Group announced on October 22 it will cancel 64 flights on October 22 and another 56 on October 23. The affected services include flights to and from Miyako and Ishigaki in Okinawa, as well as remote islands in Kagoshima Prefecture.

In addition, eight international flights to and from Taiwan will be canceled on October 23.

All Nippon Airways, or ANA, will cancel 21 flights to and from Miyako and Ishigaki on October 22 and all 34 scheduled flights on October 23.

Approximately 16,000 passengers are expected to be affected by the cancellations across the two airline groups.