Super Typhoon Champi, which reached Category 5, became the most powerful storm of 2026 based on maximum sustained wind speed, reaching nearly 185 mph, equivalent to almost 298 km/h.
Champi acquired this intensity while moving over the Philippine Sea, east of the Philippines and southeast of Taiwan, but its exact path remains uncertain. Some forecasts suggest that Champi will head towards Taiwan and then into China, while other models indicate a possible turn to the northeast toward Japan.
After forming as a tropical storm last Thursday, Champi intensified in less than two days, reaching strength comparable to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm moved northwest across the Pacific Ocean and was less than 16 kilometers from Guam on Saturday.
Images published today show more than a thousand fishing vessels moored at the Ruoshan fishing port in the Chinese city of Shitange to protect themselves from the typhoon. Local authorities organized the return of the vessels to the port as a preventive measure against the approaching storm.
This is the third time Champi has reached Category 5 hurricane status. The first instance occurred six hours after passing Guam on October 17, when sustained winds were around 265 km/h. After that, the storm weakened briefly before intensifying again to Category 5 the following day.
Champi's sustained winds exceeded 290 km/h, which were recorded by Hurricane Polo in Mexico in September, but remained below the record high of 346 km/h set by Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Nevertheless, this is the fourth Category 5 cyclone in the Western Pacific season and the seventh in the world this year.
According to meteorological services, some of which have dubbed it a 'monstrous cyclone,' Champi may bring giant waves, torrential rains, and 'potentially destructive winds' to various regions of Asia in the coming days, warns MetSul Meteorologia.