Super Typhoon Sinlaku strengthened yesterday into a dangerous storm, following a path that could lead it very close to Taiwan this weekend, the Central Weather Bureau said.
At 8:30pm yesterday, Sinlaku was centered 400km east of Oluanpi — the nation’s southernmost tip — packing maximum sustained winds of 184kph and moving north at 7kph, the bureau’s data showed.
Sinlaku’s radius had already expanded to 250km yesterday afternoon, the bureau said, advising ships operating in the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽) and in waters southeast and northeast of Taiwan to be cautious.
SOURCE: CENTRAL WEATHER BUREAU
The bureau forecast that the typhoon would continue to pick up strength and could expand in size.
LAND WARNING
A land warning for the typhoon might be issued early today, the bureau said.
Tsai Pu-tien (蔡甫甸), a senior forecaster at the bureau, said the slow-moving typhoon had an intact structure and could bring heavy rains if it moved closer to the country.
Tsai advised the public to take proper precautions.
Northeastern Taiwan and the mountainous areas in northern Taiwan started experiencing torrential rains yesterday.
MOON-LESS
Tsai said that residents in the northern, northeastern and central regions might not be able to catch a glimpse of the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sunday because the slow-moving typhoon would continue to linger in waters north of Taiwan.
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