What is being called a "monster super-typhoon," Usagi, also being referred to as the "strongest storm on Earth," is barreling toward Hong Kong. It is expected to roar through the Philippines and Taiwan before hammering the Southern Chinese coast. In the last day Usagi has grown from 75 mph to 180 mph and is now the strongest storm to form on Earth this year. It is expected to maintain it's current strength or grow for at least the next 24 hours. Dues to a lack of "hurricane hunter" aircraft, they cannot accurately measure the exact strength and it is believed the storm could be stronger than what is being reported, accoring to The independent.
Usagi is a very large tropical typhoon with a diameter of 1,100 kilometers (680 miles). Its outer rain bands were extending across the main northern Philippine island of Luzon and southern Taiwan and strong winds outward up to 220 kilometers (135 miles).
It is packing the 24-hour rainfall accumulation of 500 millimeters (nearly 20 inches) near the center of the typhoon. Philippine weather bureau forecaster Alvin Pura said that the typhoon had gathered strength and speed with gusts of 240 kph (150 mph).
Cross posted at Before It's News