Fitow later turned more to the west-northwest due to an intensifying ridge to the east, bringing the typhoon over the Ryukyu Islands with peak winds of 140 km/h (87 mph) on October 5.

The origins of Typhoon Fitow were from a persistent area of convection, or thunderstorms, about 310 kilometres (190 miles) north-northeast of Palau, an island in the western Pacific Ocean during mid-late September.

[3] Early on September 29, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)[nb 2] declared that a tropical depression formed about 310 km (195 mi) to the northeast of Palau.

[5] Around the same time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also began issuing warnings on the depression, giving it the local name Quedan.

[6] Early on September 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 3] initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 22W, noting that the circulation had become increasingly well-defined amid decreasing wind shear.

[10] By late on October 1, however, convection increased over Fitow's center,[11] and the next day the JMA upgraded it to a severe tropical storm.

[18] Around 1500 UTC on October 5, Fitow passed about 40 km (25 mi) north of Miyako-jima, by which time the eye began deteriorating.

[20] Late on October 6, Fitow made landfall just south of Wenzhou in eastern China,[21] at Fuding in Fujian province.

[22] While continuing northwestward near the border of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, Fitow rapidly weakened, dissipating on October 7.

[23] In South Korea, workers involved with the 2013 Formula One season issued a typhoon alert and began planning contingencies in the event Fitow affected the Korean Grand Prix.

[27] Ahead of the storm, officials in China issued warnings for Zhejiang and Fujian for the potential of high winds and flooding, which was later credited for reducing casualties.

Officials told boat owners to put their property in shelter, totaling 65,000 vessels ordered to return to report.

[30] In Japan, Fitow produced peak wind gusts of 133 km/h (83 mph) on Miyako-jima,[31] where about 6,800 homes lost power.

[23][33] While passing north of Taiwan, Fitow dropped heavy rainfall reaching 536 mm (21.1 in) at a station in Hsinchu County.

[33] As Fitow made landfall in mainland China, it produced wind gusts of 274 km/h (170 mph) in the Shiping Mountains of Zhejiang, setting a record for the province.

The typhoon spread heavy rainfall across eastern China in the Jiangnan region, in conjunction with a plume of cold air.

[33] Floodwaters covered about 70% of the metropolis of Yuyao, reaching 3 m (9.8 ft) in some areas, which cut off power and water supply.

[36][39] The floods were the worst in a century for the city, covering most roadways,[40] and forcing most schools, health facilities, and factories to close.

[48] In Tongxiang in Zhejiang province, thousands of people blocked a highway in protest for not receiving aid, prompting the riot police to break up the gathering.

[52] In general, local governments assisted the affected storm victims by providing food, water, and clothing, even traveling by canoe to distribute aid.

However, residents in Yuyao complained about insufficient assistance, as many people were without food or clean water for several days,[39] due to ongoing flooding making distribution difficult.