Why Asia-Pacific autumn typhoons like Ragasa are more destructive

Typhoons, or hurricanes if they originate over the Atlantic or northeastern Pacific, form when seawater evaporates and the rising moisture creates storm clouds.

The warm sea surface provides more energy and accelerates the storm formation.

Those formed between June and August are categorized as "summer typhoons", and those between September and November are "autumn typhoons".

Meteorological data for 1949 -2024 shows autumn typhoons are typically stronger and cause more damage than summer ones, China Media Group said.

The trajectory of Super Typhoon Ragasa. Graphics by Vietnam Disasters Monitoring System

As autumn arrives colder air masses increase pressure differences and accelerate wind speeds near the eye, making typhoons more intense and raising the likelihood of super typhoons.

When storms interact with cold air, they often cause heavier rainfall and more severe disasters.

Ragasa, which formed on Sept. 17, 2025, is an autumn typhoon and the strongest storm recorded worldwide this year, according to Canadian forecaster The Weather Network.

It has shown minimal changes in wind speed or direction up untilit reached China.

BBC reported that Ragasa made landfall over Guangdong Province in China Wednesday after sweeping along parts of Southeast Asian coasts.

The storm has weakened since making landfall with wind speeds of up to 144 kph, though it could still trigger secondary disasters such as flooding, mudslides and landslides.