Typhoon Usagi, a strong tropical cyclone in the western Pacific Ocean, is packing winds equivalent to a category 3 Hurricane. Over the next 24 hours Usagi will threaten Hong Kong and parts of mainland China.
The storm has already dumped more than a foot of rain in parts of Taiwan and is blamed for the deaths of two people in The Philippines
Usagi had strengthened to a super typhoon Friday morning before weakening slightly. It's now below super typhoon strength. Further weakening is expected before making landfall late late Sunday or early Monday, local time.
A tropical cyclone is dubbed a "super typhoon" when maximum sustained winds reach at least 150 mph. Usagi underwent a period of rapid intensification from early Wednesday through midday Thursday (U.S. Eastern time), going from a 55-knot tropical storm to a 140-knot super typhoon in just 33 hours, or just under a 100 mph intensification, based on satellite estimates of intensity.
By Friday night, though, Usagi underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, causing the storm to weaken slightly. In addition, the outer rain bands began to interact with Tawain and Luzon, disrupting the storm's low-level inflow, further weakening the storm.
Nevertheless, Usagi is still a powerful typhoon, and it is expected to maintain a west-northwest path through the weekend. Here are the potential forecast impacts by location for Usagi:
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