The system meandered for 21 days in August–September 1986 between the South China Sea and far western tropical North Pacific Ocean, staying within the monsoon trough and causing heavy rains across the Philippines, Taiwan, southeast China, Hainan Island, and Vietnam.

This system began its long life on August 16 in the South China Sea, having formed within the monsoon trough.

Wayne, which remained embedded in the monsoon trough throughout its lifetime, turned to the northeast in response to a relocation of the trough, and became a typhoon according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on August 19, and on August 20 according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

[2] The typhoon came close but remained offshore of southeastern China, and after reaching maximum sustained winds of 75 knots (139 km/h) it hit western Taiwan on August 22.

Wayne passed close to northern Luzon on September 2 as a 75 knots (139 km/h) typhoon, but turned back to the west.

[1] On September 4 while moving quickly westward through the South China Sea, Wayne reached a peak of 85 knots (157 km/h) winds according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, or 70 knots (130 km/h) winds according to the JMA, before it weakened due to land interaction.

[2] Wayne then entered the Gulf of Tonkin, and made its final landfall over Ha Nam Ninh in northern Vietnam later on that day, as a tropical storm.

[2] A total of 490 fatalities (with dozens of casualties in Vietnam), tens of thousands left homeless,[3] and US$399 million (1986 dollars) in damage can be attributed to Typhoon Wayne.