First Typhoon of Season Set To Hit China This Week

By Virginia Werner

The first tropical storm of the season, dubbed 'Nepartak,' developed over the weekend on the coast of Guam and is potentially making its way to Taiwan, Japan and eventually Eastern China this week, causing temperatures in the upcoming days to exceed 35 degrees.
Nepartak was upgraded from tropical depression to tropical storm yesterday and is forecast to be at risk of developing into a Category Three (out of five) or stronger hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, according to The Weather Channel.

This will be the first typhoon in the Western North Pacific basin for 200 days - a record gap between tropical storms that goes back 66 years. Shanghai's location along the southern tip of the Meiyu rain belt has had a significant impact on quite the wet season this year and could provide the climate conducive to typhoon activity.

Currently, Nepartak remains a safe distance away, and while it is difficult to say at this point given the numerous variables that may affect its course, weather experts say Eastern Asia should remain on high alert.

[Image Via The Weather Channel and Manilla Bulletin]

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