Severe Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) is gaining strength as it moves west-northwestward through favorable ocean conditions east of the Mariana archipelago, currently sustaining winds of 50 kt (93 km/h) and gusts to 70 kt (130 km/h). Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) will maintain a steady west-northwestward trajectory, intensifying into a typhoon near Guam by 18 October before deepening to a central pressure of 935 hPa over open Philippine Sea waters. The system is expected to remain a very strong typhoon as it approaches waters south of the Ryukyu Islands.
CURRENT STATUS
Based on the latest JMA observations on October 16, 2026 03:50 UTC
- Location: 10.6°N, 153.3°E — approximately 385 km north-northwest of Chuuk Lagoon and 980 km east-southeast of Guam
- Classification: Severe Tropical Storm (STS)
- Movement: West at 10 kt (20 km/h)
- Central pressure: 992 hPa
- Maximum sustained winds: 50 kt (93km/h)
- Maximum gusts: 70 kt (130 km/h)
- ≥30-kt wind area: 390 km (210 NM) to the north, 280 km (150 NM) to the south
Weathernews Global Composite Satellite Imagery valid October 15, 2026 04:30 UTC to October 16, 2026 04:30 UTC
FORECAST TRACK SUMMARY
Severe Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) will track west-northwestward through the Mariana Islands, passing close to Guam on 18 October as a typhoon before advancing across the central Philippine Sea as a very strong typhoon through 21 October.
INTENSITY FORECAST
Severe Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) is entering highly favorable oceanic conditions that will promote steady and rapid intensification, thus gaining Typhoon (TY) intensity by 18 October near Guam. Central pressure is forecast to drop to 965 hPa and sustained winds reach 75 kt (140 km/h) with gusts to 105 kt (195 km/h).
Continued deepening is expected as Champi enters the central Philippine Sea. The storm is projected to reach "very strong" typhoon status by 19 October, with central barometric pressure plummeting to 940 hPa on 20 October and reaching 935 hPa by 21 October. Maximum sustained winds near the core are forecast to peak at 95 kt (175 km/h) with maximum gusts up to 135 kt (250 km/h).
IMPACTS & THREATS
Advancing west-northwestward from the Micronesian sector through the Mariana Islands and across major Philippine Sea navigation corridors, Severe Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) presents expanding marine and coastal hazards through 21 October.
Strong Winds: Gale-force to storm-force winds will widen significantly along the storm's path. Severe Tropical Storm No. 30 (Champi) currently sustains gale-force winds (≥30 kt) up to 390 km (210 NM) north and 280 km (150 NM) south of its center. A storm warning area (winds ≥50 kt) is forecast to establish by October 16 night at 120 km (65 NM ), expanding to 220 km (120 NM) as the center nears Guam on 18 October, and widening substantially to 460 km (250 NM) by 21 October. Sustained winds near the center will reach 75 to 95 kt (140 to 175 km/h) during this period.
Violent Gusts: Destructive wind gusts pose severe risks to maritime navigation and island infrastructure. Peak gusts near the center are currently reaching 70 kt (130 km/h). Maximum gusts are forecast to increase to 80 kt (148 km/h) October 16 night, escalating to 105 kt (195 km/h) as the storm reaches typhoon strength near Guam, and peaking at 135 kt (250 km/h) across the Philippine Sea by 21 October.
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Note on the storm's name: "Champi" is drawn from the Western North Pacific and South China Sea tropical cyclone name list, contributed by Laos, and refers to the white champaca flower or plumeria. The WMO and the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee adopt these names sequentially to make tracking specific storms straightforward and to quickly communicate warnings. To learn more about how storms are named, please visit the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) website.
