The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) yesterday said it could issue a sea warning for Typhoon Noul this morning, the first for this year, although a land warning might not be necessary.
As of 5pm yesterday, the storm was centered about 920km south-southeast of Taiwan’s southernmost point of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), moving northwest at 18kph
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 162kph, with gusts up to 198kph, the bureau said.
The typhoon was expected to move directly over the northern Philippines last night, but instead of moving west toward Taiwan, it would make a sharp northern swing past the nation’s east coast, the bureau said.
Chances for a land warning are low, because the typhoon is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan, the bureau.
As a result, it is not expected to bring significant rainfall to the nation, which is battling its worst water shortage in 10 years, the bureau added.
Areas likely to be affected by Noul could be limited to southern and eastern Taiwan, the bureau said.
Nonetheless, it cautioned people to avoid activities along the coast due to stronger waves.
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