Powerful twin typhoons are tracking towards Taiwan threatening to bring severe tropical impacts to multiple parts of Asia. So far leading the way is Typhoon Lekima, which has mainly affected the ocean as it has made its path over the open waters which have been churned up into rough seas. But as it steadily closes the distance to land, nearby communities have been warned to brace for the severe typhoon. So where is the 150 mph super typhoon right now?
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) Lekima is currently churning over the Western Pacific Ocean.
As of 8.15am local time (1.15am BST) the Super Typhoon was located near 24.7 north 124.5 east, putting it approximately 190 nautical miles east southeast of Taipei in Taiwan.
Over the course of the previous six hours from 2.15am local time (7.15pm BST yesterday) Lekima tracked northwestward at 11.5 mph (10 kts).
The maximum significant wave height was recorded as 50 feet at that time.
The maximum sustained winds of the Super typhoon at that time was 150 mph (130 kts) with gusts reaching 184 mph (160 kts) according to the JTWC.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency said as of 4.45pm UTC (5.45pm BST) the scale of Typhoon was large and it was of violent intensity.
The agency put its centre position at 25.1 north, 124.6 east with the typhoon moving north northwest at 12.4 mph (20 kmh).
It added the maximum wind speed near the centre was 121 mph (105 kts), with the maximum wind gust speed reaching 173 mph (150 kts)
The exact track of the system will determine which areas are the worst hit.
But at this time, the Central Weather Bureau has issued land warnings to the following:
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Keelung
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Yilan County
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New Taipei City
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Hsinchu County
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Hsinchu City
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Taoyuan City
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Taichung City
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Taipei City
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Hualien County
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Miaoli County
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Lienchiang County
The CWB has also issued sea warnings to the north, northeast and southeast seas of Taiwan ad the north Taiwan strait.
Locations between Shanghai, China, and Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, could receive up to 6 inches (150 mm) of tropical rainfall.
Whereas areas in northern and western Taiwan and in the eastern half of the Zhegiang are most likely to get the heaviest rainfall, with more than 7.9 inches (200 mm) of anticipated rainfall.
Satellite imagery captured by NOAA and NASA revealed terrifying images of the monster storm as it gets closer to making landfall.
The images show strong winds circling Typhoon Lekima’s centre revealing the black eye at centre of the swirling cyclone.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts that Typhoon Lekima will pass over Taiwan within the next day.
After that, Lekima is forecast to turn northeast off the coast of China where it will eventually dissipate near the Korean peninsula.