Is It Really Sunny Inside the Typhoon Eye? Can You Go Out When It Passes?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Typhoon knowledge · 更新 at 2026-10-07
The Typhoon Eye: A "False Calm" at the Storm's Center
The typhoon eye is indeed a unique meteorological region within a tropical cyclone. In the center of mature, intense typhoons (such as severe typhoons or super typhoons), the centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation balances with the pressure gradient force, preventing outer airflow from intruding. This causes air in the central region to sink. Such subsidence inhibits the formation of clouds and rain, resulting in thin cloud cover within the eye, where blue skies, sunlight, or even stars may be visible, and wind speeds drop significantly to near calm.
However, this "sunny weather" is highly deceptive and short-lived. The diameter of a typhoon eye is typically only tens of kilometers. For any specific point on the ground, the time it takes to pass through is often just ten minutes to an hour. Furthermore, not all typhoons have a clear eye structure; weak typhoons or structurally loose tropical depressions may still experience heavy wind and rain at their centers. Therefore, "no rain in the eye" is not an absolute truth. Do not judge the typhoon's status based solely on visual observation; always rely on real-time meteorological forecasts.
Deadly Trap: Why Is Going Out During the Typhoon Eye Strictly Prohibited?
When the typhoon eye passes, although the wind and rain temporarily cease, this is often one of the most dangerous moments of the entire typhoon event. Going outside at this time poses three core risks:
- The "Return Wind" Is More Destructive: Typhoons in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise. After the wind and rain from the front half of the typhoon pass, the back half immediately follows. The wind direction in the rear semicircle is opposite to that of the front, and due to changes in the pressure gradient, the wind is often stronger and more sudden than before. If you are outdoors at this time, you are highly susceptible to being knocked over by sudden gusts or struck by flying debris.
- Environmental Hazards Have Peaked: After sustained battering from the first half of the typhoon, outdoor infrastructure such as trees, billboards, glass curtain walls, and utility poles may already be damaged or in a critical state. Once the strong winds from the rear semicircle arrive, these vulnerable points are highly likely to collapse or break, causing serious personal injury.
- Psychological Illusion Leads to Misjudgment: The brief calm and possible sunlight can create the illusion that "the typhoon has passed," leading people to lower their guard. If you remain outdoors, you may become trapped by the subsequent heavy rainstorm, facing risks of drowning, electric shock, or injury from falling objects.
Scientific Response: Stay Indoors and Wait for the All-Clear
The core principle when facing a typhoon is "avoidance." During the typhoon's impact, please adhere to the following safety guidelines:
- Stay in Safe Indoor Areas: As long as meteorological authorities have not officially lifted the alert, keep windows and doors tightly closed, stay away from glass windows, and remain in sturdy areas inside your home, regardless of whether it appears calm outside.
- Use the Lull for Self-Check, Not for Going Out: If you confirm you are in the area controlled by the typhoon eye, you can use this brief period to check household supplies and reinforce loose windows and doors, but absolutely do not take this opportunity to go out for shopping or to inspect disaster damage.
- Monitor Official Warnings: Specific criteria for school and work suspensions may vary by location. Please refer to the latest notifications issued by local governments and meteorological departments. Only go out cautiously after officials explicitly issue a signal lifting the typhoon warning and confirm that the external environment is safe.
Stay vigilant and do not rely on luck. Real-time typhoon tracks can be checked at TyphoonSays (taifengshuo.com)
This article is original educational content from TyphoonSays. Please refer to the latest official announcements from local governments for policy standards.