Even though Soudelor has weakened, it will remain a powerful tropical cyclone as it crosses the West Pacific, eventually threatening Taiwan and eastern China later this week.
The center of Soudelor passed directly over the island of Saipan to the north of Guam with Category 2 hurricane-force winds on Sunday night.
Winds to near 170 kph (105 mph) were reported on Saipan as the eyewall of Soudelor passed over the island. Guam to the south was largely spared any damaging winds as gusts reached 50-65 kph (30-40 mph) for several hours.
This animated GIF shows Soudelor tracking across the Pacific Ocean. (NOAA/Satellite)Warm ocean water and low wind shear will allow Soudelor to remain a power tropical cyclone over the next several days as it moves over the open waters of the West Pacific.
Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands will be the next locations to contend with Soudelor. Impacts will begin on Friday across the islands of Yaeyama and Miyako as the outer bands of the typhoon bring gusty winds and periods of rain.
Conditions will worsen across northern and eastern Taiwan Friday afternoon with the worst of the weather expected Friday night and Saturday as the powerful typhoon makes landfall along the east coast of Taiwan.
Even if Soudelor begins to weaken prior to reaching Taiwan, it is still expected to be a significant typhoon during this time, so residents should already being making initial preparations for the storm.
Rainfall totals of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) are likely across the southern Ryukyu Islands with 125-250 mm (5-10 inches) falling over northern Taiwan, including Taipei with locally higher amounts. Across the mountainous terrain of Taiwan, more than 500 mm (20 inches) of rain is likely. This amount of rainfall can trigger mudslides and produce widespread flash flooding.
Damaging winds will also be a primary concern across Taiwan where wind gusts over 160 kph (100 mph) are expected. Even in the sheltered areas of northern Taiwan, including Taipei wind gusts can reach 120 kph (75 mph).
Taking a direct path across Taiwan and its rugged terrain will cause Soudelor to weaken significantly before making a second landfall in eastern China late Saturday or Sunday; however, flooding rainfall and damaging winds are still a concern.
Flooding will be a concern from Fujian and Jiangxi provinces northward to Anhui and Jiangsu provinces this weekend into early next week. Rainfall will average 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) with more than 300 mm (12 inches) expected in parts of the coastal plain from Shantou to Taizhou.
While the strongest winds will be confined to northern Fujian Province, isolated damaging winds are still possible in parts of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces as Soudelor moves inland and weakens further.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/typhoon-soudelor-to-threaten-c/51154058