Super Typhoon Bavi: When and where will it make landfall? Check the forecast and affected areas

China, Taiwan and Japan are bracing for what could be one of the most destructive tropical storms to hit the region in years as Super Typhoon Bavi moves steadily across the western Pacific. The massive weather system, spanning nearly 1,000 kilometers, carries sustained winds of nearly 200 km/h.

Satellite observations indicate that Bavi covers an area of approximately 940,000 square kilometers, nearly nine times the size of China’s Zhejiang Province and roughly 850 times the size of Hong Kong by area.

The typhoon is expected to pass close to northern Taiwan before making landfall in Fujian province on July 11, according to China’s National Meteorological Center.

Taiwan braces for heavy rain

Weather officials in Taiwan say Bavi-scale storms are becoming less common.

Jason Chang, a forecaster with Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, said storms of this size were “relatively rare in recent years” and that Bavi was expected to be the largest typhoon to hit the island since 1987 in terms of size.

Authorities warned that up to one meter of rain could fall in mountainous areas north of Taipei. About 29,000 troops were placed on alert as officials prepared for what could be the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan since Kong-rey struck in 2024.

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In the port city of Suao, fishing vessels crowded into the harbor to protect themselves from the approaching storm. Residents collected sandbags to protect their homes while farmers rushed to harvest rice before conditions worsened.

“Don’t be fooled by the fact that the weather is nice and calm now. Such a storm could be the most terrifying,” said Chen Minghui, a 60-year-old fishing captain, according to Reuters.

Japan issues warning for Okinawa

Japan is also bracing for severe weather as the typhoon is forecast to move near the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture between Friday and Saturday, retaining much of its strength.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that wind gusts could reach 180 km/h on Friday before increasing to 252 km/h on Saturday, strong enough to cause significant structural damage.

Meteorologists expect rainfall of up to 50 millimeters per hour on the Sakishima Islands. Some areas could see up to 300 millimeters of rain between midday Friday and midday Saturday. Authorities also warned of waves exceeding 10 meters and the risk of coastal flooding from storm surges.

Where will Super Typhoon Bavi hit? Check landing timings, forecast and latest updates.(NASA)

China is still recovering from Typhoon Maysak

As Bavi approaches, rescue teams in China continue search operations after the devastation caused by Typhoon Maysak earlier this week in Guangxi. Local authorities said at least 39 people had died and nine others were still missing.

The worst-hit area was Hengzhou, where 26 people lost their lives after part of a dam’s reservoir collapsed and floodwaters entered the city.

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Flooding also hit the Guigang Zoo, where three lions died after rising water inundated parts of the facility. Damage to the enclosures allowed more than 100 animals to escape, including zebras, ostriches, peacocks and raccoons.

Elsewhere in Guangxi, more than 12,000 teachers and students stranded inside school buildings due to flooding were rescued by boat.

Flights canceled because storm is approaching

Air traffic across the region has already been affected by the approaching typhoon.

Japan Airlines canceled 48 domestic and two international flights scheduled for July 10, disrupting travel plans for about 7,610 passengers. All Nippon Airways suspended 34 flights serving Okinawa, affecting about 1,800 passengers, and announced that another 33 domestic flights would be canceled on July 11.

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In China, the National Meteorological Center raised the typhoon warning to orange, the country’s second-highest alert level. Residents of several eastern provinces bought emergency supplies and reinforced homes by taping up windows ahead of the storm.

Taiwan’s main international airport also canceled all flights scheduled for Saturday due to Typhoon Bavi.