The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) yesterday continued its warning to the island for increasing torrential rains brought by Kujira, a tropical storm downgraded from a typhoon yesterday morning.
The storm is expected to affect the island with torrential rains in the following two days despite its decrease in strength, CWB meteor-ologist Chen Wei-lian (陳維良) said.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen said that the unusually early April storm has altered its course due north, moving directly toward the island. The change of the course will lead to more rain for Taiwan proper in the next few days.
The meteorologist predicted that Kujira will be centered about 130km east of Oluanpi, the southern tip of Taiwan, this afternoon while the storm's radius will cover Taitung, Hualien, Orchid Island, Green Island and the Heng-chun Peninsula.
Air and ferry transportation services to and from Orchid Island and Green Island were all cancelled yesterday due to the approaching tropical storm.
The slow progress of the storm already brought abundant rainfall to the northeastern part of the nation yesterday. As of 5pm, certain parts of Ilan County received 155mm of rainfall, while Keelung had 58mm and 85mm had already fallen in Taipei County.
The bureau issued a land warning Monday night against Kujira, the first April typhoon expected to hit the country in 25 years. At the time the land warning was issued, the typhoon was located 460km southeast of Taiwan, moving northwest at 10kmh and packing maximum winds of 140kmh.
Based on the experience of past typhoons, the government cautioned the public to be prepared for floods and landslides that may be triggered by the typhoon by having sandbags and other preventive gear at the ready.
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