Interest is growing in Typhoon No. 18 Saudel’s landfall in China and its subsequent changes in intensity. In a bulletin issued at 10:30 p.m. on September 2, the Korea Meteorological Administration identified Saudel as Typhoon No. 18, and two landfalls were confirmed in Zhejiang, China.
Key changes
Reuters reported that Saudel made successive landfalls in Taizhou and Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China, on August 28, 2026. Wenzhou authorities evacuated more than 820,000 people, while Taizhou authorities suspended passenger-ship services and identified people subject to evacuation.
The search terms included the phrase “third landfall,” but major verified sources describe two landfalls in Zhejiang. Claims of 520 mm of rainfall and cemetery losses in Fujian were also not independently confirmed in the materials reviewed for this article.
The verified landfall record shows two landfalls in Taizhou and Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Current status
According to the KMA bulletin, Saudel’s center was at 23.0°N, 118.1°E at 9 p.m. on September 2. Its central pressure was 992 hPa, its maximum wind speed was 23 m/s, and it was moving north-northwest at 26 km/h.
The Japan Meteorological Agency also provides a record identifying T2618 SAUDEL as a tropical depression on August 29, 2026. The name Saudel was submitted by Micronesia and is included in the 2026 list of typhoon names for the western North Pacific and South China Sea. It means “the trusted escort or soldier of Chief Saudelur.”
Impact
The confirmed impacts in China so far are evacuations following the landfalls in Zhejiang and the suspension of passenger-ship services. Claims that Saudel will make a direct landfall in South Korea or cause nationwide damage cannot be stated as confirmed facts.
Information related to Jeju should be distinguished from Saudel and Typhoon No. 24 Krathon. In a bulletin issued at 4 a.m. on September 2, the KMA identified Krathon as a separate typhoon. Its dangerous-weather materials for September 2 listed a preliminary high-wave advisory for the open waters around Jeju beginning on the night of September 3. This differs in both subject and wording from the search-term phrase “a preliminary strong-wind advisory early on September 4.”
Next update point
The KMA forecasts that Saudel will weaken into a tropical depression at 9 p.m. on September 4. Because the typhoon’s track and marine advisories can change over time, Saudel’s actual movement and any impact on South Korea should be checked again against the KMA’s latest typhoon bulletin and advisories immediately before publication.
Sources: Korea Meteorological Administration, “Typhoon No. 18 Saudel Bulletin” (issued at 10:30 p.m. on September 2, 2026; checked at 01:40:16 a.m. on September 3, 2026) https://testweather.kma.go.kr/w/hazard/typhoon/report.do?tIdx=2
Japan Meteorological Agency, “Tropical Depression T2618 SAUDEL” (record issued at 03:50 a.m. on August 29, 2026; checked on September 3, 2026) https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/cyclone/cyclone_detail?id=60&lang=jp
Reuters report (August 28, 2026; checked on September 3, 2026) https://theprint.in/world/typhoon-saudel-makes-landfalls-on-chinas-eastern-coast-disrupts-travel/3027436/
Korea Meteorological Administration, “Typhoon No. 24 Krathon Bulletin” and advisory/preliminary advisory materials (issued or published on September 2, 2026; checked on September 3, 2026) https://www.weather.go.kr/w/hazard/typhoon/report.do https://www.weather.go.kr/w/wnuri-fct2021/weather/warning.do