[Diary Point = Reporter Eom Ju-yong] Typhoon Inpa, the 31st named storm of the season, is expected to strengthen into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 55 meters per second near its center starting Oct 29. In a typhoon advisory issued at 4 p.m. on Oct 28, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Inpa is currently moving west-northwest over waters east of Guam and is forecast to maintain its intensity through Oct 30.
As of 3 p.m. on Oct 28, Inpa was located at 15.1 degrees north latitude and 159.0 degrees east longitude. Its central pressure stood at 930 hPa, with maximum winds near the center reaching 50 meters per second and a gale-force wind radius of 290 kilometers.
Inpa expected to reach super typhoon status starting Oct 29
The KMA projected that Inpa would intensify to a central pressure of 925 hPa and maximum winds of 51 meters per second by 3 a.m. on Oct 29, before strengthening further to 55 meters per second by 3 p.m. the same day. Winds of 54 meters per second or higher fall into the KMA's highest typhoon intensity category, classified as 'super strong.'
By 3 p.m. on Oct 30, Inpa is expected to maintain a central pressure of 915 hPa and maximum winds of 55 meters per second. At that point, the storm's center is forecast to move near 18.1 degrees north latitude and 146.3 degrees east longitude, with its gale-force wind radius expanding to 330 kilometers.
Current forecast track remains far from the Korean Peninsula
Under the current forecast, Inpa is expected to pass waters north of Guam on the afternoon of Oct 31, then sit near 21.4 degrees north latitude and 141.2 degrees east longitude by the afternoon of Nov 1. By the afternoon of Nov 2, it is projected to move near 21.4 degrees north latitude and 137.6 degrees east longitude — a track that does not currently show a direct landfall on or close approach to the Korean Peninsula.
However, a typhoon's projected position can shift over time. The KMA's 70% probability radius is set to grow from 190 kilometers on the afternoon of Oct 31, to 290 kilometers on the afternoon of Nov 1, and 440 kilometers by the afternoon of Nov 2 — meaning it is still too early to rule out any effect on the Korean Peninsula for the more distant forecast dates.
For Jeju weekend plans, local rain and marine forecasts matter more than the typhoon itself
In a morning briefing on Oct 28, the Jeju Regional Meteorological Office forecast that Jeju would be mostly clear on Saturday, Oct 31, before turning mostly cloudy with afternoon rain on Sunday, Nov 1. Weekend morning temperatures are expected to range from 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius.
Wave heights in waters around Jeju and the western South Sea are forecast to range from 1.0 to 2.0 meters during the forecast period. Travelers heading to Jeju or the southern coast should check the KMA's latest typhoon advisory update times and regional land and marine forecasts before departure, as well as flight operation notices from their airline and airport.
The KMA's next advisory on Inpa is scheduled for around 10 p.m. on Oct 28. Whether the storm turns northward and how its probability radius changes in subsequent updates will be key factors in determining any potential impact on Jeju and the Korean Peninsula.