The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) last night issued a sea alert for Typhoon Khanun as it moved closer to northeast Taiwan and said that it does not rule out issuing a land alert.
The sea alert applies to vessels operating off Taiwan’s north and northeast coasts, it said.
China Airlines (中華航空), EVA Airways (長榮航空), Starlux Airlines (星宇航空) and Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) canceled flights that were to depart for Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture today, as Naha Airport remained closed due to the approaching storm.
As of 8:30pm yesterday, Khanun was centered 650km east of Taipei and was moving northwest at 12kph, CWB data showed.
The maximum wind speed near its center was 162kph and its radius was 280km, the data showed.
CWB forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said that the typhoon had strengthened as it decelerated.
Rain in northern Taiwan yesterday was from its outer edges, Lin added.
Rain would continue until tomorrow, particularly in mountainous areas, he said, adding that the CWB could still issue a land alert in northern Taiwan, depending on where the typhoon turns north and at what angle.
Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華), a senior specialist in the CWB’s Weather Forecast Center, said that Khanun’s intensity is forecast to continue increasing as it moves west, adding that it is not expected to weaken until after it turns north, likely on Friday.
Khanun is expected to be closest to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, but chances of rain are high today in northern, central and southern Taiwan, Wu said.
Highs in Hualien and Taitung counties could top 36°C today because of sinking air, the CWB said.
High waves are forecast today on the northern and eastern coastline, as well as on Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) and Green Island, and in the Hengchun Peninsula and Lienchiang County, while northern coastal areas, Hengchun, Orchid Island and Green Island could have winds of up to Level 9 or 10 on the Beaufort Scale, the bureau said.
People in low-lying coastal areas should beware of seawater intrusion, as the storm’s approach coincides with the spring tide, it said.
Showers are forecast for central and southern Taiwan from Saturday to Monday next week, while afternoon showers are forecast for the rest of the nation, it added.
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