Super Typhoon 'Hinnamnor' Is Threatening Japan. All About Strongest Tropical Cyclone Of The Year In Northern Hemisphere

Super Typhoon Hinnamnor, which has strong sudden winds moving at speeds over 195 miles per hour, poses a threat to Japan’s southern islands. China’s east coast is at risk of being swept by wild winds.

Super Typhoon Hinnamnor, the strongest global storm of 2022, is currently travelling at a speed of about 160 miles per hour (257 kilometres per hour) and is moving across the East China Sea, Bloomberg reports. Hinnamnor formed in the Pacific on Sunday.

The storm, which has strong sudden winds moving at speeds over 195 miles per hour, poses a threat to Japan’s southern islands. China’s east coast is at risk of being swept by wild winds. Hinnamnor is the 11th tropical storm of the year. 

Difference Between Typhoon, Hurricane And Cyclone

A tropical cyclone is referred to as a typhoon, hurricane, or cyclone depending on where it originates. The tropical cyclones developing in the northwest Pacific are called typhoons, and usually affect Asia. The tropical cyclones forming in the North Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, the northeastern Pacific, central North Pacific, or the Gulf of Mexico are called hurricanes. 

The tropical storms developing over the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.

All About Hinnamnor

According to the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the maximum significant wave height of Super Typhoon Hinnamnor is 50 feet or 15 metres. 

Based on the maximum sustained wind speed recorded at the maximum significant wave height, Hinnamnor would be the strongest storm of 2022, an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency said, according to the Bloomberg report. 

At 10 am local time on August 31, the typhoon was centred about 230 kilometres east of Japan’s Okinawa, the Hong Kong Observatory said. Hinnamnor is forecast to move west-southwest at a speed of about 22 kilometres per hour toward the Ryukyu Islands. 

Over the coming days, the meandering super typhoon is likely to lose some of its strength, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 

Atlantic Was Unusually Calm In August This Year

There is a sustained period of calm in the Atlantic, because of which the region between Africa and the Caribbean, called the Hurricane Alley, is on course for its quietest August in 25 years, according to the Bloomberg report. August is typically the beginning of the hurricane season’s most active phase.

August 2022 was an unusually quiet month for Atlantic storms. In more than seven decades of record-keeping, the Atlantic Ocean has witnessed only two stormless Augusts, according to Phil Klotzbach, lead author of Colorado State University's seasonal storm forecast. The stormless Augusts in the Atlantic were in 1961 and 1997. 

Hinnamnor Is Northern Hemisphere’s Strongest Tropical Cyclone Of The Year So Far

According to a report by the New York Times (NYT), Hinnamnor is the Northern Hemisphere's strongest tropical cyclone of the year so far. 

By Wednesday afternoon (local time), Hinnamnor was about 100 miles southeast of the Japanese island of Okinawa, and was moving westward through the Pacific Ocean at about 12 miles per hour. 

Which Regions Is Hinnamnor Likely To Approach?

Hinnamnor is expected to approach Okinawa's main island later this week, news agency ANI reported. The typhoon is bringing violent winds to parts of Okinawa. 

As of 11 am local time on August 31, Hinnamnor was advancing west-southwest over the seas off the island of Minami Daitojima in the Okinawa Prefecture at 25 kilometres per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, Japanese media company NHK World-Japan reported. 

Early on Wednesday, powerful winds hit the Daitojima region. At an airport in the Daito Islands, southeast of Okinawa, gusts travelling at speeds up to 174 kilometres per hour were observed. 

Hinnamnor is expected to develop further. The winds are likely to intensify over Okinawa's main island and the Sakishima Islands through Thursday, according to the ANI report. 

According to weather officials, the seas around Okinawa's main island and the Amami region are forecast to become rough on Thursday, NHK World reported. In the Daitojima region, the seas are extremely rough. 

According to the ANI report, Hinnamnor is likely to become stationary over the seas south of Okinawa. After this, the typhoon will move north to come closer again to the Japanese prefecture. 

What Adverse Effects Is Hinnamnor Likely To Cause?

Residents of Okinawa are likely to witness violent winds and high waves, and have been advised to stay alert for evacuation information issued by local municipalities. 

According to the ANI report, the atmospheric conditions around Japan's main island of Honshu are unstable because warm, moist air is flowing in from the south. Over some parts of the Tokai, Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, rain clouds are developing, NHK World reported. 

During the 24-hour period through Thursday morning (local time), rainfall is expected to reach up to 150 millimetres in Hokkaido, 120 millimetres in Tohoku, 100 millimetres in Tokai, and 80 millimetres in the Kansai region.

Mudslides are likely to occur, rivers may swell, and low-lying areas may become flooded. 

According to the NYT report, the typhoon could drop about seven inches of rain in the Okinawa islands by Thursday morning (local time), and is likely to destroy homes. 

The typhoon will most likely change its direction by Friday, and avoid Taiwan and mainland China's southern coast. Hinnamnor is likely to advance north toward the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula.