A sea warning could be issued for Typhoon Mawar as soon as early tomorrow, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday.
The typhoon is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan in the next two days, and as of 8pm yesterday, it was 1,200km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the nation’s southernmost point.
It was moving at 23kph in a westerly direction, with maximum sustained winds of 198kph and gusts of 244.8kph near the center, bureau data showed.
Photo: Central Weather Bureau
The typhoon is forecast to continue moving westward until it nears the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines, bureau forecaster Chao Hung (趙竑) said.
Mawar would then begin to slow and turn north, but the timing remains uncertain, he said.
Chances of a land warning remain slim, the bureau said.
Mawar would mostly affect Taiwan proper from tomorrow to Thursday, bringing rain to Taipei, New Taipei City, the northern areas of Keelung, eastern Taiwan and the Henchung Peninsula, the bureau said.
Heavy rains could occur in northeastern Taiwan and are unlikely to abate until Friday, it added.
The Forestry Bureau yesterday warned people to avoid mountainous areas, saying that anyone who is in the mountains should leave immediately.
Meanwhile, 115 tourists from Taiwan are stranded in Guam after Typhoon Mawar battered the island earlier this week and forced its airport to close.
Lion Travel Service Co (雄獅旅行社) yesterday said that they are all independent travelers who departed for Guam on May 19, and were supposed to return via Starlux Airlines Flight JX-8071 on Tuesday.
Hotel arrangements have been made for them, Lion Travel said, adding it was in talks with Starlux to bring the stranded travelers back home once the airport reopens.
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