Typhoon Kajiki Elevated to Severe Tropical Storm by Hainan Authorities

According to Hainan Province meteorological authorities, Typhoon Kajiki, the 13th typhoon of the year, was upgraded to a severe tropical storm at 17:00 on the 23rd. At that time, its center was located at 17.6 degrees north latitude and 114.7 degrees east longitude, approximately 550 kilometers east of Sanya City, Hainan Province, over the central South China Sea. The maximum wind force near the center reached level 10 (25 meters/second) and the minimum central pressure was 985 hPa. The radius of the level seven wind circle was 150 to 220 kilometers. Kajiki is expected to continue moving westward at about 25 kilometers per hour, rapidly strengthening, and gradually heading towards the southern coast of Hainan Island, with landfall expected in Sanya during the afternoon or evening of the 24th at a strong typhoon level. Afterwards, it is expected to move towards the north-central coast of Vietnam. Under its influence, there will be severe wind and rain in the eastern and southern maritime areas of Hainan Island, as well as the Xisha and Zhongsha Islands from the 24th to the 25th. Other maritime areas will experience strong wind and rain. The southeastern half of Hainan Island will see heavy to extremely heavy rain, with some locations experiencing exceptionally heavy rain, while the northwestern half will see heavy to very heavy rain during the same period.