there is ... one typhoon in Taiwan

[sitifan]

"Wrong example: During the summer, there is at least one typhoon in Taiwan.
Typhoons are not things that “exist” in Taiwan. Their paths are not within Taiwan but over the Pacific Ocean; they only frequently “hit” Taiwan. Therefore, using “there is … one typhoon in Taiwan” in this sentence is not correct. Perhaps we can say it like this: At least one typhoon hits Taiwan every summer. "
Source: Correct English Sentence Patterns, by Yen Sihua, page 96.

Is the sentence in red acceptable to native speakers?

 

[jutfrank]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking whether what Yen Sihua says is reasonable? Yes, it is.

 

[emsr2d2]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with "There is" for happenings.

There's heavy rain at least once a week here.
There are terrible floods in Uzbekistan at the moment.
There is a hurricane coming.

I don't know what you mean when you say typhoons don't exist in Taiwan, but they hit it. If Taiwan is hit by a typhoon, then there's a typhoon in Taiwan.

 

[sitifan]

I don't know what you mean when you say typhoons don't exist in Taiwan, but they hit it. If Taiwan is hit by a typhoon, then there's a typhoon in Taiwan.

Not me. It's the author, Yen Sihua, who says that typhoons don't exist in Taiwan, but that they hit it.

 

[Skrej]

Yes, but once a typhoon hits Taiwan, it's in Taiwan until it blows over the island. I completely disagree with the author on that point, although it is common to use 'hit' as well.

I live in 'Tornado Alley', a region where the majority of tornadoes occur in the US. There are a lot of tornadoes in my state in particular. Occasionally their path takes them into a city or town. Even though the storm may have traveled for miles before reaching the town, we'll still say things like "There was/is a tornado in (city name). "

 

[SoothingDave]

When hurricanes hit the land, they usually quickly degrade into mere "tropical storms." So they may be thinking that a typhoon hits land and ceases to exist as a typhoon.

Or they may just be confused.