The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a sea warning for Typhoon Podul this morning as it moves closer to Taiwan, saying the storm's effects could be felt in Taiwan starting tomorrow.
The CWA issued its first sea warning for Podul at 5:30am.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
As of 8am, the typhoon's center was 730km east-southeast of Taitung County in eastern Taiwan.
The storm was moving west-northwest at 25kph, with sustained winds of 119kph and gusts of up to 155kph.
It is expected to be located 140km east-southeast of Taitung County at about 8am tomorrow morning, the CWA said.
A land warning for the storm — which indicates that parts of Taiwan are expected to be within the storm's outer rim within 18 hours — is expected to be issued early this afternoon.
CWA weather forecaster Liu Yu-chi (劉宇其) said Podul appeared to have intensified as it approached Taiwan and was expected to pass over the main island during the day tomorrow before reaching the Taiwan Strait after sunset.
He also warned of strong coastal winds from the storm, especially along Taiwan's west coast south of Changhua County and along the coasts of Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, with waves of up to 5m possible near the storm's center.
The CWA said the skies across Taiwan would be partly sunny today, but that afternoon showers were likely in western and mountainous areas.
The northern coast in Keelung and the northeast could also see brief showers after nightfall.
Taiwan is forecast to feel Podul's impact from tomorrow, with showers and extremely heavy rain likely in the east and southeast as well as mountainous areas in the south, the CWA said.
Meanwhile, temperatures today were forecast to remain high around Taiwan.
The CWA has issued a heat alert for parts of Taipei and New Taipei City, where highs could reach 36°C.
Daytime highs across Taiwan could exceed 30°C, with nighttime temperatures remaining at 25°C to 27°C, the CWA said.
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