Typhoon Maria to batter Taiwan, China after making direct hit on Japan's Ryukyu Islands

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

July 10, 2018, 10:18:49 PM EDT

Typhoon Maria is expected to once again threaten lives and property when it moves into eastern China on Wednesday and Thursday.

Anyone in Maria’s path should make any last-minute preparations and heed any evacuation orders.

"Maria's excessive rainfall can lead to significant flooding," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said. "Mudslides are a serious concern in the higher terrain."

After lashing the Ryukyu Islands, Maria passed by the tip of northern Taiwan on Tuesday night. While the typhoon did not make landfall on the island, it passed close enough to bring significant impacts to the nation on Tuesday. Maria's winds and rainfall will continue to impact the island on Wednesday morning.

View of Typhoon Maria from the Himawari 8 satellite on Tuesday evening, local time. Image courtesy of Colorado State University.

Rain and wind will continue to cause significant transportation delays in Taipei and surrounding communities of northern Taiwan.

Conditions across northern Taiwan will improve throughout Wednesday as Maria departs and approaches the coastline of eastern China.

Maria made landfall near the city of Fuzhou on Wednesday morning as a powerful and dangerous typhoon. Northern Fujian and southern Zhejiang provinces will bear the brunt of Maria’s fury.

Flooding rain and destructive winds can lash the eastern Chinese cities of Wenzhou, Fuzhou and Ningde. The worst of conditions will pass to the south of Shanghai.

More lives and property will be threatened where Maria’s winds drive the ocean’s water onshore near and north of where the typhoon makes landfall. Severe storm surge flooding can occur in Sansha and Taizhou bays.

Those along the coast of northern Fujian and southern Zhejiang should consider moving farther inland to avoid flooding from inundating storm surge.

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The strength of Maria’s winds can severely damage well-built structures. Widespread downed trees and power poles can leave the hardest hit areas without power for days. Some locations may become inaccessible where debris clogs roads.

Being out during the height of the storm will be extremely dangerous as flying projectiles can cause injury or death.

Maria will weaken quickly after moving onshore, reducing the risk for damaging winds; however, flooding rainfall will remain a concern into Thursday and Friday.

Areas as far inland such as Jiangxi, northern Hunan and Hubei could have flooding downpours as Maria continues to track northwestward across the interior of China.

Anyone in the path of Maria is urged to stock up on essential nonperishable food, medicine and items needed to protect your home and business from wind damage. Keep gas tanks and cans filled and cell phones fully charged.

Evacuation routes should be reviewed. Be sure to follow the advice of local government and heed any evacuation orders in the coming days.

The U.S. State Department issued a weather advisory for American citizens in eastern China.

Typhoon Maria slammed Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands with heavy rain and powerful winds on Tuesday before conditions improved Tuesday night.

On Tuesday afternoon local time, Maria's eye passed directly over Japan's Miyakojima Island. The sun reportedly emerged as the eye of the cyclone passed over the island. Winds became nearly calm following 34 m/s (76 mph) gusts only minutes earlier.

A peak wind gust of 45 m/s (100 mph) was reported on Miyakojima as the eye wall of Maria passed over the island.

While the name was retired in the Atlantic Ocean after the devastation Puerto Rico endured in 2017, Maria can still be used in the western Pacific Ocean as every tropical basin in the world has its own unique list.