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By Lee Hae-rin
Typhoon Hinnamnor, the most powerful tropical storm so far this year, is forecast to hit the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula next Tuesday, causing strong winds and heavy rain. In addition, it could become the strongest storm ever to hit the country, raising concerns over possible damage, the likes of which have never been witnessed here before.
Forecasts show that Hinnamnor, the 11th such storm this year, has changed its course from the strait between Korea and Japan to the Korean Peninsula, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said, Friday.
The tropical storm will land on the southern shores of South Gyeongsang Province on Tuesday morning and move up the country's east coast later that day and into the night.
As of Friday 9 a.m., the typhoon was moving over waters 420 kilometers southeast of Taipei with a central pressure of 935 hectopascals and winds reaching up to 49 meters per second. It is classified as "very strong," the second-highest level in the KMA's four-tier system ― strong enough to blow people over and move stones.
Typhoon Maemi, which struck the country in September 2003, was also classified as super strong, with a central pressure of 954 hectopascals and a maximum wind speed of 60 meters per second.
Predictions show that Hinnamnor will grow stronger as it moves northward. It is the strongest storm seen this year based on the maximum sustained wind speed recorded at this point, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
The tropical storm is expected to grow and enter the super strong category, the highest level in the KMA's system, while moving 280 kilometers to the east-northeast of Taipei on Sunday morning and arriving at Jeju's southern coast as a very strong-level storm next Monday morning.
When the typhoon approaches the peninsula's southern coast next Tuesday morning, it is forecast to weaken to the strong category, the third-strongest level in the four-tier system. The state weather agency expects the storm to have a central pressure of 950 hectopascals and a maximum wind speed of 43 meters per second, which is strong enough to derail trains.
Under the influence of Hinnamnor, the country will see heavy precipitation until next Tuesday. The typhoon's influence will reach its peak between next Monday and Tuesday.
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| Maritime police officials take precautionary measures at Seongsan Port in Jeju's Seogwipo City as Typhoon Hinnamnor approaches, Friday. Yonhap |
The southeastern part of Jeju Island saw 100 millimeters to 250 millimeters of rain due to the tropical storm, Friday.
"There is a possibility of unprecedented damage," KMA official Woo Jin-kyu said during a press briefing, advising people to prepare for heavy wind and rains.
