The 22th typhoon of 2021 in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, named “RAI”, was born over the sea surface southeast to the Philippines on Dec 13^th(BST, similarly hereinafter). It strengthened to super typhoon (58m/s) near the eastern coastal of the Philippines Mindanao at 8 am on Dec 16^th, then landed (or through) several islands of the Philippine with super typhoon or severe typhoon rank from 1pm Dec 16^th to 5pm 17^th. It strengthened again to super typhoon (55 m/s) in the southeast area of the South China Sea at 2pm on Dec 18^th .The direction of “RAI” changed to north in the morning on Dec 19^th and its intensity gradually weakened. It was downgraded to tropical storm in the evening on Dec 20^th and ceased to be classified at 8am on 21^th.

Fig.1 the life-period track and intensity of typhoon “RAI”

“RAI” is the first super typhoon to occur over the South China Sea in mid-to-late December since meteorological records began in 1949, and it is also the latest super typhoon of a year since 1949 to affect the South China Sea.

“RAI” hit islands and reefs in the South China Sea head-on, with strong winds lasting for a long time. From Dec 17^th to 20th, there were gusts of force 8 to 10, and local ones of Force 11 to 13.

Typhoons that move into the South China Sea in December tend to move west toward Vietnam, and it is rare for a typhoon like “RAI” to turn northward from a westerly path in the South China Sea.

“RAI” has caused severe damage to the central Philippines, also with casualties.

（Writer: Zhang Ling/Meng Qingtao, Editor:  Liu Shuang）