Typhoon Saola at 2am yesterday intensified into a super typhoon and Taiwan is likely to issue a sea warning for it as early as tonight, followed by a possible land warning the next day, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said.
As of 8am yesterday, Saola was about 630km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, and was moving southwest at 9kph to 10kph, with sustained winds of 184kph and gusts of up to 227kph, CWB forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said.
The typhoon was moving in a counter-clockwise loop east of the Philippines, and was expected to turn toward the north-northwest yesterday and today, before approaching the Bashi Channel to the south of Taiwan.
With Saola approaching, a sea warning is likely to be issued sometime between tonight and early tomorrow morning, Lin said, adding that people on ships or boats near Taiwan’s southeast coast should watch for ocean swells in the next few days.
A land warning might also be issued on tomorrow afternoon or later that day, Lin said, adding that Saola would have its biggest effect on Taiwan from Wednesday to Thursday, dumping heavy rain on the eastern half of the country.
Saola is expected to strengthen in the next three days, before losing power when it brushes Taiwan, Lin said.
The typhoon’s center might pass through southern Taiwan, but its path could still change, Lin added.
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