Typhoon Champi Transitions to Extratropical Cyclone
Typhoon Champi weakened into an extratropical cyclone early Monday, October 26, 2026, while continuing to generate hazardous rainfall and strong winds across parts of East Asia, according to meteorological reports from South Korea and Japan. The system lost its formal typhoon status at approximately 3:00 a.m. local time on October 26 in waters roughly 230 kilometers south-southeast of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korean authorities reported. Japan’s Meteorological Agency recorded the transition slightly earlier, noting the shift at 9:00 p.m. on October 25 over the East China Sea as the system tracked northeastward at about 20 kilometers per hour.
Impacts on Jeju Island and South Korea
Despite losing its tropical characteristics, Champi left behind extensive disruptions across Jeju Island. Strong-wind advisories remained active in multiple sectors on October 26, with forecasters warning of sustained winds exceeding 20 meters per second and mountain gusts surpassing 25 meters per second. Previous typhoon warnings for open waters south of Jeju were downgraded to high-wave warnings, with offshore swells reaching up to 5 meters. Over the preceding four days, the storm dumped torrential precipitation across the island. Accumulations reached approximately 415 millimeters in localized spots, with Mount Hallasan recording more than 400 millimeters of rainfall. The downpours flooded greenhouses, downed trees, and forced the restriction of maritime ferry services alongside the closure of Hallasan hiking trails. Although rain tapered off by Monday afternoon, authorities advised continued vigilance as renewed strong winds were forecast to return.
Heavy Rains Move Across Japan
Following its transition over the East China Sea, Champi's broad circulation and associated weather fronts drove heavy rainfall from western through eastern Japan. Certain areas in Nagasaki Prefecture registered more than 200 millimeters of rain over a 24-hour window, marking an unusually high October total for the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that dangerous precipitation would persist from Shikoku through the Kanto region, including the Tokyo area, through the afternoon of October 26. Projected rainfall totals through midday on October 27 ranged from 100 to 180 millimeters in vulnerable zones. Emergency management officials urged residents to monitor for overflowing rivers, urban flooding, and landslides resulting from ground saturation.
Background
Champi developed earlier in October 2026 as the 30th named storm of the Pacific typhoon season, tracking near Guam, the Philippines, and Taiwan before turning north toward the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Meteorological records indicate it stands as one of the latest seasonal typhoons to affect the region in recent years.
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