The 16th named storm of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season, Sinlaku formed on August 27 northeast of the Northern Marianas Islands.

There, the storm produced a record wind gust of 204 km/h (127 mph), and just south of the city, high waves destroyed several piers and a large boat.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 2] began monitoring a tropical disturbance on August 26, noting that an area of convection had an associated circulation.

[2] On August 27, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)[nb 3] classified the system as tropical depression south of the Japanese island of Minamitorishima,[3] although the circulation was exposed from the convection.

The next day, the JTWC initiated warnings on Tropical Depression 22W about 945 km (587 mi) northeast of Saipan, after the thunderstorms began wrapping into the center.

[2] Initially, the depression moved generally northward through a weakness in the subtropical ridge,[2] strengthening into Tropical Storm Sinlaku on August 29.

[4] Shortly after Sinlaku become a typhoon, the JMA estimated it attained peak 10 minute maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (93 mph).

[4] On September 1, Sinlaku began undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, although cooler water temperatures caused by previous Typhoon Rusa prevented restrengthening.

On September 6, Sinlaku passed a short distance north of Taiwan,[4] and subsequently a west-northwest motion resumed.

[4] Around 1030 UTC that day, Sinlaku made landfall in east-central China near Wenzhou, a city near the border of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

Offshore Okinawa, a Philippine cargo ship went missing, prompting a rescue mission by the Japanese Coast Guard.

[4] In Taiwan, the country's Central Weather Bureau issued storm warnings for coastal waters and for areas along the coast.

[5] Premier Yu Shyi-kun ordered various government agencies fully prepare for the typhoon, including the activation of a disaster contingency system.

Officials also closed schools and government buildings in Taipei, and flights between northern and southern Taiwan were canceled.

[22] Upon making landfall, the typhoon dropped heavy rainfall along its path, including a 24‑hour total of 215 mm (8.5 in) where it moved ashore.

[2] The rainfall caused the Huangpu River to rise to above-normal levels, which prompted officials to close 1,000 floodgates to prevent flooding in Shanghai.