Damaging winds, waves several feet high and torrential rain: Typhoon CHAMPI is heading for Taiwan. Although the typhoon is weakening slightly and is expected to pass just wide of the island, the all-clear is far from being given.

With gusts of up to 125 miles per hour and waves up to 27 feet high, conditions are set to become particularly rough along Taiwan’s northeast coast. The first flights have already been cancelled. Preparations for the storm are also underway in China’s coastal regions.

The rain is a particular cause for concern. In north-eastern Taiwan, up to 20 inches can fall within a few hours. Such heavy rainfall poses a risk of severe flooding and landslides.

After that, CHAMPI is expected to turn northeast and continue to lose strength. However, the matter is not quite over yet: as an ordinary low-pressure system, the former typhoon could still bring heavy rain to Japan later on.