Violent Typhoon Champi Approaches Japan's Sakishima Islands with Extreme Winds and Waves

Large and powerful Typhoon Champi is expected to approach the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Friday. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for high alert due to forecast windstorms, high waves up to 11 meters, and heavy rain. As of Thursday afternoon, the typhoon had a central atmospheric pressure of 925 hectopascals, with a maximum wind speed of 50 meters per second (112 mph) and maximum instantaneous wind speed of 70 meters per second (157 mph). The typhoon is expected to weaken into an extratropical cyclone by Monday.