Taiwan is bracing for heavy rain in the south and rough seas around outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu), as Typhoon Saudel passes north toward eastern China, with forecasters today warning of localized flooding over the next two days.
Saudel is expected to pass closest to Taiwan tomorrow, when its outer rain bands are forecast to brush past Matsu, before making landfall at about midday in China's Zhejiang Province and weakening significantly, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
The storm's outer bands, combined with intensifying southwesterly winds, are expected to bring heavy rain to southern and southeastern Taiwan tonight and into tomorrow, the weather agency said.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
As the storm approaches the Matsu islands tomorrow, rain and winds there are expected to intensify, it said.
This morning, showers were already drenching central and southern Taiwan, with Pingtung County recording more than 100mm of rainfall, the CWA said, adding that northern and eastern Taiwan remained mostly cloudy to sunny, but isolated afternoon thunderstorms were likely in mountainous areas.
The CWA issued weather alerts for Chiayi and areas further south today, warning of heavy rain, lightning strikes and strong wind gusts.
The weather agency also warned of landslides and rockfalls in mountainous areas in the south and flooding in low-lying areas.
As of 11am, Saudel was centered about 520km east-northeast of Matsu, packing maximum sustained winds of 126kph, with gusts of 162kph, and moving west-southwest at 12kph to 18kph, the CWA said.
Although the storm is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan, the CWA issued a sea warning at 8:30am today, saying the typhoon poses a threat in waters north of Taiwan, particularly near Matsu.
Vessels operating in that area are advised to exercise extreme caution, the agency said.
It also warned of rough seas, saying that waves of more than 2m were already bashing the coasts of northern and eastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula, Matsu, Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼).
High tides could increase the risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas if heavy rainfall coincides with high tide, the CWA said.
In addition, strong wind advisories remained in effect through tonight for New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Pingtung County, Matsu and Orchid Island, meaning sustained winds of 41kph to 51kph and gusts of 63kph to 75kph could be expected, the agency said.
Meanwhile, the CWA issued a heat advisory for Taipei, New Taipei City, Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Matsu, saying that temperatures could exceed 36°C because of a subsidence associated with southwesterly airflow.
Heavy rain is expected to continue across much of Taiwan through tomorrow morning, with torrential rainfall likely in southern and southeastern areas due to strong southwesterly winds and multiple weather systems in the area, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The CWA issued a warning today for torrential or extremely torrential rain in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung County and Taitung County, and for extremely heavy to torrential rain in Chiayi County, Hualien County and on the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島). Heavy to extremely heavy rain is also expected through tomorrow in Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, Yilan County, Green Island (綠島), Penghu
Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the nation on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The radius of Saudel shrank to about 220km as of 8am today from 250km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155kph from 184kph previously, the weather agency said. As of 8am, Typhoon Saudel was 980km east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 18kph, it said. Under the influence of a Pacific high pressure system, the storm is moving northward, meaning it is less likely to make landfall in Taiwan,
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