The names of Typhoons No. 22 and No. 23 appeared one after another.
However, the mere fact that the typhoon numbers are increasing and that the two systems are active simultaneously does not mean they are approaching South Korea.
We will examine separately the locations, strength, and forecast tracks of Etau and Bang-Lang mentioned in this report.
3-Line Summary
1. No impact on South Korea was forecast for either No. 22 or No. 23
2. Both typhoons were forecast to move north over distant waters east of Japan
3. Their locations and forecasts matter more than their typhoon numbers
No. 22 Etau, Over Distant Waters East of Tokyo, Japan
Typhoon No. 22 Etau (ETAU) developed at 3:00 p.m. on August 27 over waters approximately 2,600km (2600km) away to the northeast-northeast of Guam. Based on data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Yonhap News TV reported that Etau was expected to maintain Intensity 1 and move north along distant waters off Tokyo, Japan. The report’s statement that “there would be no impact” was not a result that had already occurred, but a forecast based on its location and the forecast at that time.
The name Etau was submitted by the United States and means “storm cloud.” According to the Korea Meteorological Administration announcement cited by the Korea Lecturer Newspaper at 4:20 a.m. on the 29th, Etau was expected to approach waters approximately 2,530km (2530km) east of Tokyo at 3:00 p.m. that day. Its central pressure was listed as 992hPa, its maximum wind speed as 23m per second, and its direction of movement as north-northwest. The announcement also forecast that the typhoon would weaken into a tropical depression within 96 hours.
No. 23 Bang-Lang Also Moving Northeast from Northeast of Guam
According to International News, citing a Korea Meteorological Administration announcement, Typhoon No. 23 Bang-Lang (BANG-LANG) formed at approximately 21:00 on August 28 over waters approximately 2,360km (2360km) away to the northeast-northeast of Guam. The outlet reported that Bang-Lang was moving north toward Sapporo, Japan. “Bang-Lang” is the typhoon’s name, and the track presented in the article did not confirm landfall or damage in South Korea.
The Korea Meteorological Administration announcement available at the time of reporting stated that Bang-Lang would pass over waters approximately 2,580km (2580km) to the northeast-northeast of Guam at 9:00 a.m. on the 29th, then move the following day to waters approximately 2,700km (2700km) east of Tokyo, Japan. It was also forecast to weaken into a tropical depression over waters approximately 2,530km (2530km) east of Sapporo, Japan, on September 1. This, too, was not a statement definitively establishing the actual track in advance, but the forecast track and weakening time presented at the time of the announcement.
Two Active Typhoons Do Not Necessarily Mean the Same Domestic Impact
The most important things to consider when reading about these two typhoons are their locations and directions, not their numbers. Announcements said that Etau would move from northeast-northeast of Guam toward distant waters east of Tokyo, Japan, while Bang-Lang would also move from northeast-northeast of Guam toward waters east of Japan. Economy Talk News forecast that both typhoons would head toward distant waters around Japan and have no significant impact on South Korea. Therefore, taking only the information that “No. 22 and No. 23 exist” and using it to claim domestic damage or landfall would go beyond the tracks reported.
The criteria behind the term “typhoon” are also worth examining. In the World Meteorological Organization classification introduced by the Korea Lecturer Newspaper, a maximum wind speed near the center of 33m per second or higher is classified as a typhoon (TY), 25~32m per second as a severe tropical storm (STS), and 17~24m per second as a tropical storm (TS). However, South Korea and Japan call all tropical cyclones with maximum wind speeds of 17m per second or higher typhoons. The reported figures of 23m per second for Etau and 24m per second for Bang-Lang should be read alongside these classifications, and strength cannot be judged by the number alone.
In the past, the number of systems that formed and their impact on South Korea have not always corresponded. The Korea Lecturer Newspaper reported that approximately 30 typhoons form each year on average, but that an annual average of 3.1 have brought rain to South Korea, even indirectly. This figure is not a basis for determining the impact of the two typhoons this year; it provides context for why each track must be considered separately. The point to watch in this announcement is not the sequence of No. 22 and No. 23, but that both typhoons are heading toward east of Japan over distant waters and are expected to weaken.
It was reported that both Etau and Bang-Lang formed as typhoons. By contrast, whether they will affect South Korea and when they will weaken are forecasts conveyed by each outlet while citing Korea Meteorological Administration announcements. Within the scope presented in the reports, there is no basis for stating definitively that either typhoon is approaching the Korean Peninsula.
References
Tags #2026Typhoons #TyphoonNo22 #Etau #ETAU #TyphoonNo23 #BangLang #TyphoonTrack #KoreaMeteorologicalAdministration #JapanTyphoon #GuamTyphoon #TropicalDepression