Super Typhoon Krathon 2024: First Typhoon in 47 Years to Strike Taiwan’s Western Plains
Super Typhoon Krathon, known in the Philippines as Bagyong Julian, delivered record-breaking rainfall to northern Luzon and Taiwan during late September and early October 2024. The storm formed over the Philippine Sea on 26 September and became the 18th named storm of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season. Krathon reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h under the 10-minute averaging standard and a central pressure of 920 hPa before weakening near Taiwan. The cyclone brought extreme rainfall, flooding, coastal hazards, and widespread disruption across the Philippines and Taiwan.
Formation Over the Philippine Sea — How a Tropical Disturbance Became a Super Typhoon
Krathon originated from a tropical disturbance over the western Philippine Sea on 26 September 2024. The system developed into a tropical cyclone east of Taiwan and northeast of the Philippines, then gradually organized as it moved through a favorable environment with warm ocean temperatures and strong atmospheric support.
PAGASA identified the storm as Bagyong Julian after it developed within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The agency monitored the cyclone through its Tropical Cyclone Warning System and issued warnings based on the Philippine Public Storm Warning Signal framework, ranging from Signal No. 1 to higher levels as threats increased. Although Julian did not make landfall in the Philippines, its outer rainbands affected northern areas, particularly Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and surrounding provinces.
The cyclone strengthened from a tropical depression into a tropical storm on 28 September and reached typhoon intensity on 29 September. Its circulation became increasingly organized as deep convection wrapped around the center, allowing rapid intensification over open waters between the Philippines and Taiwan.
By 30 September, Krathon had developed a clear eye and intensified into a major typhoon. The cyclone’s slow movement allowed it to maintain access to warm ocean waters for an extended period, supporting continued strengthening before reaching its peak.
The storm’s unusual trajectory placed it between northern Luzon and southern Taiwan, creating a prolonged period of hazardous weather rather than a short-lived coastal impact. Forecast agencies across the western Pacific closely monitored its approach because of its potential effects on densely populated coastal regions.
Peak Intensity Near Batanes — Krathon’s Explosive Strengthening Over Open Waters
Krathon reached its strongest phase around 0000 UTC on 1 October 2024 near the northern South China Sea region. PAGASA classified Bagyong Julian as a Super Typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 105 knots and a central pressure of 920 hPa. International best-track analyses also recorded extreme intensity, with one-minute maximum winds estimated at around 240 km/h.
At peak strength, Krathon displayed the characteristics of an intense western Pacific super typhoon, including a compact eye, powerful eyewall convection, and strong outward-flowing upper-level circulation. The storm reached this intensity while positioned near the waters west of the Philippines and south of Taiwan.
Northern Philippine communities experienced significant impacts from Krathon’s outer circulation. PAGASA weather stations recorded exceptional rainfall totals, with Basco, Batanes receiving 859.9 mm during the storm period from 26 September to 3 October. A 24-hour rainfall total of 728.0 mm was recorded in Basco on 30 September, while Laoag City in Ilocos Norte received 481.6 mm during the same period.
The rainfall produced flooding risks, landslide threats, and transportation disruptions in affected areas. Emergency agencies prepared response operations, distributed assistance, and monitored communities exposed to prolonged heavy rain.
Despite its extreme intensity, Krathon did not make landfall in the Philippines. However, Batanes experienced a direct passage of the storm’s inner circulation, with radar observations showing the province entering the eye region during the typhoon’s strongest stage.
The storm later turned northwestward toward Taiwan while maintaining typhoon strength. Its movement toward the island placed southern and western Taiwan under increasing threat from intense winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding.
Taiwan Landfall — Krathon’s Destructive Crossing of the Island’s Southern Coast
Krathon became a historic storm for Taiwan when it made landfall on the island’s western plains in early October 2024. It was the first typhoon since Typhoon Thelma in 1977 to directly strike Taiwan’s western plains, marking a rare event for a region that is often less frequently affected by direct western-side landfalls.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration issued warnings as Krathon approached, with authorities preparing for strong winds, heavy rain, storm surge, and flooding. Southern coastal areas, including parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, faced the greatest risks because of their exposure to the storm’s circulation and coastal geography.
Krathon weakened before crossing Taiwan due to land interaction and changing environmental conditions, but it retained enough strength to produce dangerous weather. Strong winds damaged infrastructure, disrupted transportation, and affected power supplies in several areas.
The storm’s rainfall caused flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous and low-lying regions. Emergency services conducted rescue operations and recovery work as communities assessed damage after the cyclone passed.
The disaster caused at least 16 deaths and hundreds of injuries across affected regions. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center reported 4 deaths and 719 injuries, while Philippine authorities confirmed 5 fatalities linked to Bagyong Julian. Additional reports from affected areas recorded further casualties during the disaster response and recovery period.
Economic losses were estimated at more than 21 million US dollars, with additional agricultural and infrastructure damage reported in the Philippines exceeding 934 million pesos. The combined impacts reflected damage to transportation systems, public facilities, agriculture, and local communities.
Krathon’s impact demonstrated the risks created when a powerful tropical cyclone approaches Taiwan from an uncommon direction. The western plains, where population centers and major industrial zones are concentrated, experienced a direct tropical cyclone strike after nearly five decades without a comparable event.
Dissipation Over the Taiwan Strait — How Krathon Fizzled Into a Remnant Low
After crossing Taiwan, Krathon weakened rapidly over the Taiwan Strait. Interaction with land disrupted its circulation, causing the storm to lose organization and decrease in intensity.
PAGASA recorded Krathon weakening into a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on 4 October 2024 near 22.1°N, 120.2°E over the Taiwan Strait near the coast of Pingtung County. The cyclone completed its transition from a super typhoon to a remnant system after more than seven days of activity.
From its formation on 26 September to dissipation on 4 October, Krathon traveled across the western Pacific and affected multiple East Asian coastal regions. Krathon's 2024 lifecycle—from tropical disturbance on 26 September to remnant low on 4 October—left behind 859.9 mm of rainfall in Batanes and a rare direct strike on Taiwan's western plains.