Following a path that Typhoon Chaba took nine days prior, Songda moved west-northwestward and strengthened quickly amid favorable conditions.

[2] The convection steadily organized and consolidated into rainbands around a well-developed circulation, aided by low wind shear.

An eye began becoming visible on satellite imagery on August 29,[1] prompting the JTWC to upgrade Songda to typhoon status at 12:00 UTC that day.

[3] A day later, the JMA also upgraded the storm to typhoon status, and the agency estimated an initial peak intensity on August 31 of 165 km/h (105 mph).

[2] That day, the JTWC also estimated peak 1 minute winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

[3] Operationally, the JTWC estimated slightly higher winds and assessed Songda as a "super typhoon",[1] but it was revised downward.

[1] On September 1, the storm passed about 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Agrihan with 1 minute winds estimated at 233 km/h (145 mph).

The storm gradually weakened, partly due to drier air, and accelerated northeastward on September 6 toward western Japan.

[1] At 00:00 UTC on September 7, Songda made landfall on Nagasaki in western Kyushu with 10 minute winds of 140 km/h (85 mph).

[5] After a brief turn to the north, the storm moved northeastward over northern Hokkaido and southern Sakhalin and entered the Sea of Okhotsk.

[5] Early in its duration, Songda passed northeast of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, producing gale-force sustained winds and typhoon-force gusts.

[1] Monsoon-induced rainfall from Songda, in conjunction with Typhoon Aere in the South China Sea, caused flooding in portions of the Philippines.

[6] The outskirts of the typhoon dropped heavy rainfall in South Korea, with a peak 24-hour total of 112 mm (4.4 in) on the offshore island of Ulleungdo.

Significant rainfall totals occurred in short periods of time, including 78 mm (3.1 in) in Soeda, Fukuoka.

[8] Winds and strong waves heavily damaged the Itsukushima Shrine, a structure over water in Hiroshima that dates back to the 14th century.