Powerful Hurricane Vance slowly approaches Mexico as Typhoon Champi leaves 500+ injured in Taiwan

THE TAKEAWAY

Hurricane Vance continues to strengthen after becoming the 13th hurricane in the Pacific Basin this season on Friday as it moves slowly toward Mexico. After rapidly intensifying into a hurricane Friday, Vance is slowly approaching Mexico as a powerful Category 2 storm.

Meanwhile, monster Typhoon Champi clipped northern Taiwan Friday, killing 1 person and injuring more than 500 others, including 21 foreign nationals, according to local police. 

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While the storm did not make landfall, it slammed Taiwan with heavy rain, powerful wind gusts and large waves.

Champi has weakened significantly after tying Super Typhoon Sinlaku earlier this week as the strongest storm to form in any basin this year, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts of 225 mph.

The typhoon has also generated enormous sea swells. Significant wave heights near the storm's center reached 68 feet, representing the average height of the highest one-third of waves.

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Champi is forecast to continue to weaken as it moves toward Japan this weekend and early next week.

Hurricane Vance has slowed and is moving in the direction of the southern Mexican coast, packing powerful wind gusts and life-threatening swells.

Vance is the first V-named storm in the basin since 2018.

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Vance's slow speed has increased uncertainty in the storm's track and forecast intensity beyond the weekend.

As FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross frequently points out, forecasts for slow-moving storms are prone to large errors and subject to change.

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According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Vance could still briefly strengthen but is beginning to encounter cooler water and drier air which could hinder further development. 

If Vance maintains enough strength, it is expected to approach the coast. However, if it weakens significantly, it could turn farther west-northwest and could remain farther offshore.

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A strong El Niño climate pattern has supercharged tropical development across the Pacific, with a Super El Niño expected to be declared later this year.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest in the tropics.