Japan: Typhoon No. 30 (Champi) expected to become very powerful early next week
Checked on
Published on
Weather News forecasts from the morning of the 16th, checked on the 17th. The rest of the track remains very uncertain.

In this article
Where is it now?
According to Weather News, at 3 am (Japan time) on 16 October, the typhoon was near the Marshall Islands and moving west at 20 km/h. Central pressure 998 hPa, maximum wind 20 m/s, gusts up to 30 m/s.
Forecasts
It should strengthen over warm waters and reach “very strong” intensity early next week. It should first head west-north-west, pass near the Truk Islands and the Mariana Islands, then reach the east of the Philippines.
An uncertain track
Beyond the short term, the differences between models are large. A continuous westward track would have little effect on Japan; a turn to the north-east could affect some regions. AI-based models lean more westward than conventional physical models. The uncertainty should decrease over time.
A point of reference
Reaching No. 30 this early has not happened since 2013; having a typhoon every month from January to October has only occurred in 1965, 2015 and 2026. Regularly check the official information of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Learn the grammar
French grammar
Learn sentence patterns and usage from the article’s own sentences.
01The present indicative
est / sont + attribute (noun, adjective, prepositional phrase)
Il devrait d’abord se diriger vers l’ouest-nord-ouest, passer près des îles Truk et des îles Mariannes, puis rejoindre l’est des Philippines.Key pointsÊtre in the present is est for a singular subject and sont for a plural one. It describes nature, state or place (“is”, “is located”). If what follows (the attribute) is a noun, adjective or prepositional phrase, it is not a passive. If a past participle follows, it is a passive (est annoncé). Headlines and summaries often use the present to describe the current situation.
02The passé composé of pronominal verbs
se + present of être + past participle
Atteindre le n° 30 aussi tôt n’était pas arrivé depuis 2013 ; avoir un typhon chaque mois de janvier à octobre ne s’est produit qu’en 1965, 2015 et 2026.Key pointsThe passé composé of a pronominal verb (se + verb) always uses être as auxiliary (il s’est diffusé / elles se sont réunies). Se changes with the subject: me, te, se, nous, vous. The past participle usually agrees with the subject in gender and number.
03The imparfait
stem (nous form of the present) + -ais / -ait / -ions / -iez / -aient
Selon Weather News, à 3 h (heure japonaise) le 16 octobre, le typhon se trouvait près des îles Marshall et se déplaçait vers l’ouest à 20 km/h.Key pointsThe imparfait describes states, background, habits and actions in progress in the past (il était, elle avait, ils pensaient). Take the nous form of the present, drop -ons, and add -ais / -ais / -ait / -ions / -iez / -aient. If the passé composé gives “the event itself”, the imparfait paints “the situation at the time”.
04The present conditional
stem (infinitive) + -ais / -ait / -ions / -iez / -aient
Japon : le typhon n° 30 (Champi) devrait devenir très puissant en début de semaine prochaineKey pointsThe conditional expresses possibility, supposition, unconfirmed information and polite requests (“would”, “might”). It uses the same stem as the future and the same endings as the imparfait (-ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient): pouvoir → il pourrait. In the news it is used to avoid asserting, as in “is reported to…” or “there is a possibility…”.
05The passive voice in the present
être (est / sont) + past participle (+ par / de)
Les modèles fondés sur l’IA sont plus orientés vers l’ouest que les modèles physiques classiques.Key pointsThe passive means “is done” or “is being done”. It is formed with être + past participle, which agrees with the subject in gender and number (la mesure est adoptée / les mesures sont adoptées). The agent is introduced by par (or de). In the news it is common when the event, rather than the actor, is the focus (est prévu / est annoncé / est connu).
06The imperative
present vous form (-ez) / nous (-ons) / tu
Consultez régulièrement les informations officielles de l’Agence météorologique japonaise.Key pointsThe imperative expresses commands, requests and advice. It has no subject: the sentence starts with the verb (Consultez les informations.). The vous form ends in -ez, nous in -ons (Restons prudents.), and tu in -e for -er verbs (Consulte). It is very common in notices and warnings (Vérifiez, Consultez, Restez informé).
07Pronominal verbs
se / s’ + verb
Selon Weather News, à 3 h (heure japonaise) le 16 octobre, le typhon se trouvait près des îles Marshall et se déplaçait vers l’ouest à 20 km/h.Key pointsA pronominal verb is used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) before the verb. It can mean “do to oneself”, “be done” or “do to each other”. In the news, se traduire (to result in), se tenir (to take place), s’agir de (to be a matter of) and se diffuser (to spread) are frequent. The pronoun changes with the subject (il se tient / ils se tiennent / je me souviens).
08Citing a source with selon
selon + noun / organisation
Selon Weather News, à 3 h (heure japonaise) le 16 octobre, le typhon se trouvait près des îles Marshall et se déplaçait vers l’ouest à 20 km/h.Key pointsSelon means “according to”. Put a person or organisation after it as the source. It separates facts the writer checked directly from what another body or report said. Citing a source does not turn a forecast into an accomplished fact.
09Pouvoir: ability and possibility
peut / peuvent / pourrait + infinitive
Un trajet continu vers l’ouest aurait peu d’effet sur le Japon ; un virage vers le nord-est pourrait toucher certaines régions.Key pointsPut a base-form verb after pouvoir. Peut means “can” or “may”; the conditional pourrait gives a more reserved possibility, “might”. It does not necessarily mean implementation is settled.
10Dates and their prepositions
le + 日付 / du … au …
Selon Weather News, à 3 h (heure japonaise) le 16 octobre, le typhon se trouvait près des îles Marshall et se déplaçait vers l’ouest à 20 km/h.Key pointsLe 15 octobre means “on 15 October”. Distinguish the le before a date from the le that marks a weekly habit like a weekday. Du is de + le and au is à + le, so decide the meaning from the verb and period expressions around them. Their role depends on the group: a range of dates, the date of a bulletin or another complement.
11Marking a starting point
dès / depuis / à partir de + point in time
Atteindre le n° 30 aussi tôt n’était pas arrivé depuis 2013 ; avoir un typhon chaque mois de janvier à octobre ne s’est produit qu’en 1965, 2015 et 2026.Key pointsDès means “as early as” or “as soon as”, and à partir de means “from … onwards”. Depuis basically shows a state or period continuing from a point in time. All deal with a start, but they are not used the same way.
12Devoir: obligation or probability
doit / doivent / devrait + infinitive
Il devrait se renforcer au-dessus d’eaux chaudes et atteindre l’intensité « très forte » en début de semaine prochaine.Key pointsDevoir + infinitive means “must”, but depending on context it can also mean “is expected to”. Devrait is conditional. In the news, judge from the context whether it is an obligation or a forecast.
Japanese grammar
Understand the structure and usage from the text.
01Citing a source: によると
noun + によると
ウェザーニュースによると、台風30号は16日3時の時点でマーシャル諸島付近にあり、西へ時速20kmで進んでいます。Key pointsAs in “LCPによると”, it shows where the information comes from. What that source reported follows. It is used differently from “私にとって”, which gives one’s own opinion.
02Plan, outlook and policy
〜の予定 / 〜見込み / 〜方針
暖かい海の上を進むため発達しやすく、来週前半には「非常に強い」勢力になる見込みです。Key points予定 is a plan, 見込み a forecast and 方針 a course of action or intention. None of them asserts that something has already been carried out. Note the difference from expressions such as “決まりました”.
03Expressing a possibility
〜可能性がある / 〜かもしれない
西へ進み続ければ日本への影響は小さく、北東へ向きを変えれば日本の一部に影響する可能性があります。Key pointsThese forms say something may happen. Even when “possibility” is written, it does not mean it will certainly happen. Check whose forecast it is, plus the time and conditions.
04Cause or purpose with ため
〜ため / 〜ために
暖かい海の上を進むため発達しやすく、来週前半には「非常に強い」勢力になる見込みです。Key pointsため is used for both reason and purpose. “成立ではないため” is a reason and “運転手を守るため” a purpose. Decide from the whole sentence whether what precedes is a cause or a goal.
05Quoting with と: content and report
plain-form sentence + と + verbe de parole (報じる, 説明する…)
時間がたつと、不確実さは小さくなるとされています。Key pointsと takes the content that is reported or explained. In “改定する方針だと報じました”, “改定する方針だ” is what the report said. Separating the content from who said it and how makes long sentences easier to read.
06Linking actions with the て-form
verb て-form + next expression
日本への影響が心配な場合は、気象庁の台風情報を定期的に確認してください。Key pointsThe て-form links actions in a series, in order or as a reason. In “確認して、出発する” the relation is judged from the content. In “〜ている” it can show an action in progress or a continuing state.