Fun fact: Japan goes to incredible lengths to keep its highways open even during the worst sea effect snow outbreaks. Not only do they deploy thousands of machines, they also have smart set ups like "guide lights" during whiteout conditions and also spray bright blue dye onto snowbanks to help keep drivers orientated. Video below from last year driving near Myoko.
Really sketchy moment in the southern eyewall of typhoon Pepito / Manyi in Baler
5.45am Baler, Philippines: cat 4 typhoon Pepito / Man-yi is on track to impact this region early afternoon. Current conditions are calm with light rain showers (echo in audio I don’t have time to deal with right now)
Good morning from Santa Ana, Philippines. Usagi / Ofel went beserk overnight and intensified into a 130kts super typhoon according to the JTWC. It’s a small system with a pinhole eye and core and is expected to make landfall and cross somewhere between Santa Ana and Gonzaga later this afternoon.
Made it safely back to Baler - a really tough chase in a stunning beautiful and rugged part of the Philippines. Mark and I witnessed damage consistent with a category 1 typhoon landfall. And the journey back, encountered a lot of this…
One year ago today powerhouse category 4 typhoon Koinu lashed Kenting - the 7 day period either side of October 1st is a climatological peak for landfalls and Taiwan is often where they happen.
Kaohsiung sustained a battering, probably a record breaking one wind wise, but that will take time to confirm. Ferocious winds sent debris flying and trees down all across the city and surrounding areas. Lots of clips to work through, but a short sample included here
The scars of a previous storm - the Hong Sheng 88, a victim of typhoon Gaemi in July, getting battered by the churning seas of typhoon Krathon in Taiwan
KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN - 0700: Typhoon Krathon has started its northeast turn towards Taiwan and is expected to make landfall in around 18hrs from now. The storm has weakened slightly from its mighty peak, likely due to cold water upwelling from its slow track speed, but it’s going to pack a major punch when it hits land. This area of the country is not used to direct landfalls with most storms coming from the east and unravelling over the mountains before reaching here. Expecting major flooding in the mountains too. More updates to come…
There are moments in my career when I'm in my absolute element, occasions where a challenge presents itself that absolutely I live for. Early September 2023 was one of those instances. As I was filming typhoon Saola lashing Hong Kong, typhoon Haikui was rapidly intensifying into a cat 3 east of Taiwan and I had to find a way to get there. Two countries, two typhoons in 40 hours - the kind of moment I live for! Video link in the first comment below...
Typhoon Shanshan update, Kagoshima city: Fierce gusts are ripping across Kagoshima Bay, I suspect this is localized down-sloping effect in the lee side of Sakurajima volcano. The pedestrian bridge we’re on is swaying in the wind. I saw a similar phenomenon here in 2022 during typhoon Nanmadol.
