The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) yesterday said that it might issue a sea alert for Koppu, adding that it could also issue a land alert if it comes close enough.
CWB data showed that Koppu strengthened at 2am yesterday, but its structure was weakened after making landfall on Luzon at 8am.
The CWB forecast that the typhoon would be further weakened after hovering over Luzon for three more days, after which the typhoon would slow and move northward.
By the time Koppu reaches the Bashi Channel, it would probably be downgraded to a tropical storm again, the CWB said.
CWB forecaster Chen Wei-liang (陳維良) said that a weakened typhoon would have limited ability to generate strong winds.
However, attention should be paid to possible damage caused by heavy rainfall, Chen said.
The combined effects of the typhoon and monsoon winds are forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the nation’s north and east.
Koppu is forecast to affect the weather in Taiwan from Wednesday through Friday, Chen said.
As of 2pm yesterday, Koppu was 660km south of Oluapi (鵝鑾鼻), the bureau said, adding that the storm was moving northwest and had a radius of 200km.
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