October 22, 2026 — Taiwan issued a land warning on Thursday as Typhoon Champi approached, and 125 flights were cancelled the same day, most of them domestic. Ferries are suspended, and the worst weather is expected on Friday and Saturday. The storm is also forecast to cross Yonaguni in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture.
What’s happening
- Land warning: Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration put the storm about 520 km (320 miles) southeast of the island’s southern tip. It had weakened slightly but still had gusts above 227 km/h (141 mph). Its storm radius of 320 km is big enough to cover most of Taiwan, Reuters reported.
- Track: Champi is expected to pass northeastern Taiwan, turn north toward the Chinese coast, and then move into southern Japan. Effects on Taiwan could last almost two days.
- Rain and sea: Close to 1 meter (3 feet) of rain is forecast for northern mountain areas, including hills near Taipei. Coastal towns were alerted to waves of more than 6 meters (20 feet).
- Timing: The worst conditions are expected on Friday and Saturday, and Taiwan’s forecaster expects to lift warnings on Saturday afternoon.
How travel is affected
| Service | Status |
|---|---|
| Flights in Taiwan | 125 cancelled on Thursday, mostly domestic (transport ministry) |
| Ferries in Taiwan | Suspended |
| Trains in Taiwan | Rail network unaffected so far |
| Tourist attractions in Taiwan | Many closed |
| Japan | Japan Airlines, ANA and Skymark cancelled more than 100 flights from Thursday to Sunday, mostly domestic, affecting about 11,000 passengers |
| Hong Kong links | Some Hong Kong–Taipei and Hong Kong–Okinawa flights cancelled; HK Express is waiving rebooking fees for new dates within two weeks |
In the Philippines, where the storm is called Rosal, PAGASA kept Wind Signal No. 2 over Batanes and the northeastern Babuyan Islands on Thursday morning and expects the storm to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or early Saturday. Waves of up to 12 meters are forecast off northern and eastern Batanes.
What it means for airline travelers
- Don’t head to Taiwan on Friday or Saturday unless you have to. With domestic flights already being cut and the worst weather still ahead, standby options will shrink fast and you could be stuck for days.
- Already in Taiwan? Consider leaving before Friday or waiting until after warnings lift on Saturday afternoon. Check your flight status before going to the airport.
- Trains are the backup. The rail network was still running normally at last report, which helps if you need to get between cities, but check before travel.
- Okinawa and southern Japan: Domestic cancellations run through Sunday, and Yonaguni is on the forecast track. Check flights to the Okinawa islands before you list.
- Outlying islands and ferries are off. Don’t count on boat transfers until Taiwan lifts its warnings.
- Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad, and check whether your travel insurance covers weather delays.
Sources
- Reuters via The Business Standard — Typhoon Champi nears Taiwan, causing flight cancellations and disrupting US-Japan drills (October 22, 2026)
- Around Prague — What Typhoon Champi means for travelers in Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong (October 22, 2026)
- The Philippine Star — Signal No. 2 remains in 2 areas as Super Typhoon Rosal weakens (October 22, 2026; PAGASA 11 a.m. bulletin)
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