Super Typhoon Ragasa & Mitag Update: New Details on Mitag’s Landfall and Ragasa’s Rise
There’s unrest brewing over the warm seas of the Western Pacific. Two tropical systems—Cyclone Ragasa-25 and Typhoon Mitag-25—are dominating the headlines, one ascending toward super-typhoon ferocity, the other already wreaking havoc onshore. As of 20 September 2025, fresh data from Chinese meteorological authorities confirms that Mitag has made landfall with serious consequences, even as Ragasa looms, building strength and potential destruction.
JUST IN: #Ragasa (#NandoPH) has been upgraded to a Category 5 super typhoon by the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). It now packs 1-minute sustained winds of 140 knots (~260 km/h), and central pressures of 922 hPa.
It is the first Category 5 storm in the Western Pacific… pic.twitter.com/AYU9yQlJo6
— mateyo (@matteyowwwwww) September 21, 2025
Typhoon Mitag-25 Makes Landfall: Schools Closed, Rains Torrential, Travel Disrupted
On 19 September 2025, Typhoon Mitag struck the southern coast of China near Shanwei, Guangdong Province, at around 14:50 local time (06:50 UTC), according to the China Meteorological Administration. At landfall, the storm brought sustained winds near 90 km/h (56 mph), with the central pressure estimated around 1,000 hectopascals. The system was moving northwest at roughly 10-15 km/h. The Watchers
Almost immediately, emergency response was elevated. Guangdong raised its alert to Level III, the second highest in China’s four-tier scheme. The Watchers
Heavy to very heavy rainfall battered eastern Guangdong, southeastern Fujian, and parts of Jiangxi. Some areas recorded 24-hour totals of 250-300 mm, with a few localities surpassing 300 mm. The Watchers The deluge triggered flash flood risk, river swelling, and landslides in mountainous zones. The Watchers
The human and infrastructure impact was swift:
- Schools in Shanwei and several districts in Huizhou closed. The Watchers
- Ferry services along the coast were suspended. High-speed rail services between major coastal cities were temporarily halted. The Watchers
- Tourist spots and marine passenger operations were shut down as a precaution. The Watchers
- Local media reported localized flooding, road inundation, and power outages in coastal counties. The Watchers
Mitag is now the 17th named tropical cyclone of the 2025 season, and the 6th to make landfall in China this year. The Watchers Chinese authorities warn that autumn typhoons often bring prolonged rains and compound hazards — especially inland, from river flooding to landslides.
Ragasa-25: A Rising Beast on a Collision Course
While Mitag is delivering its punch, Ragasa is still building heat and power, and all eyes are on its next moves.
- Ragasa has already reached winds of 103-117 km/h, with gusts up to 150-166 km/h, and is expected to intensify further.
- Forecasts suggest Ragasa may reach super-typhoon strength in the coming days, especially as it moves over warm sea surface temperatures and encounters favourable atmospheric conditions.
- Its track is projected to bring it west-northwest, possibly entering the South China Sea around 23-24 September, where coastal provinces (Vietnam, southern China) should brace for high seas and destructive winds.
Intersecting Threats: Mitag’s Aftermath and Ragasa’s Approach
Mitag’s immediate impact has been largely rainfall and flooding-related, especially in Guangdong. Even though winds were not at extreme levels compared to some past typhoons, the sheer volume of rain in already vulnerable terrain has magnified damage potential.
For Ragasa, the danger lies not just in its potential strength, but in timing. If it arrives while ground is already saturated by monsoon rains (and potentially recent storms, including Mitag), then rainfall, flooding, and runoff could be much worse. Coastal areas will also have to contend with storm surges, especially if high tides and Ragasa’s waves align.
What Authorities Are Doing & What Locals Are Saying
Chinese governments are acting proactively in Mitag-affected zones: closures, transport suspensions, emergency services on heightened alert. The toll of heavy rain in steep terrain (mountainous Fujian, Jiangxi) means landslides are a constant worry. Local communities are being urged to stay off roads prone to overflow, protect drinking water, and be aware of sudden rises in rivers.
In Vietnam and other nations in Ragasa’s projected path, fishermen are getting orders to return to port, homes along coasts being reinforced, evacuation routes reviewed. Meteorological agencies are issuing extended warnings, not just of wind, but of compound hazards: flooding, landslides, storm surge.
Uncertainties, Risks, and What to Watch Next
- Mitag’s weakening doesn’t mean it’s done. Even as its winds drop inland, its outer bands may continue dumping heavy rain for several more days, keeping flood risks elevated.
- Ragasa’s intensification path still depends heavily on sea surface temperature, moisture, and wind shear. If any of those factors deteriorate, it may slow or veer. But models so far suggest potential for its strongest phase between 22-24 September.
- Exact landfall location for Ragasa remains uncertain. Small deviations can dramatically change which coastal populations are hardest hit.
- Lagged impacts: landslides, river flooding, infrastructure damage usually follow in the days after landfall or heavy rainfall, especially in mountainous or poorly drained regions.
Mitag has already shown how tropical cyclones deeply affect lives even when not at peak strength. Its landfall shows the power of rain and disruption, where wind isn’t the only villain. Ragasa, meanwhile, looms as a test of what could be stronger storms to come — a reminder that in tropical cyclone season, worst might not be over just because one storm has passed.
Residents in potentially affected regions should stay alert, follow local meteorological updates, and prepare for multi-hazard impacts. Secure homes, plan for transport disruption, and take rainfall forecasts seriously.
The 2025 typhoon season isn’t easing off — if anything, it’s intensifying its presence. Ragasa and Mitag together underline that challenge: storms of different phases, but connected risks.
Asia Weather Forecast Autumn 2025
Gleb Perov is the founder and chief meteorologist of POGODNIK, a leading weather forecasting service in Eastern Europe. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in meteorology and climate analysis, he has worked private weather services.
Gleb is the author of numerous scientific and analytical publications on climate, magnetic storms, and atmospheric processes. He regularly collaborates with major international agencies such as NOAA, ECMWF.
