Tropical Storm Tapah (22W) – Tropical Cyclone Advisory #7: 1200 UTC 8 September 2025

…Tapah rapidly unraveling as it pushes inland over China…

Current storm information:

• Position: 23.8°N 110.6°E

• Movement: NW at 10 knots (20 km/h)

• Intensity: 40 knots (75 km/h) 

• Central pressure: 989 hPa

Trend:

• Rapid weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Tapah is expected to become a tropical depression later tonight.

Discussion:

Tapah’s structure has rapidly deteriorated as it moves further inland. Radar data from CMA indicates that the eyewall structure has completely collapsed, and the circulation has broadened significantly. Satellite imagery also indicates that convection is starting to erode north and east of the center. However, bands of intense convection continue to wrap into the center from the south. Tapah as a whole is continuing to generate intense convection mainly to the west of the center, likely as the result of a favorable interaction with a trough positioned to the north that is enhancing its outflow. The intensity is lowered to 40 kts, although this is likely generous as there are no surface observations of tropical storm force winds, but it is assumed that such winds are still occurring near the coast. This is also in line with CIMSS D-PRINT and D-MINT estimates as those tools still function for tropical cyclones over land.

Although Tapah is still producing some convection, this is not expected to last much longer. Tapah is forecast to make a gradual turn toward the west later tonight into Tuesday, and this will take the circulation over some rugged terrain. Tapah should quickly spin down and weaken to a tropical depression within the next few hours. Most of the available model guidance dissipates the system within the next 24 hours, and so does the forecast.

Forecast positions and maximum winds

• 00 hrs: 23.8°N 110.6°E – 40 kts

• 12 hrs: 24.1°N 108.5°E – 25 kts inland

• 24 hrs: Dissipated