Typhoon Saudel losing strength, CWA reports

SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said

Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday.

The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night.

Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said.

Premier Cho Jung-tai, fifth left, accompanied by Pingtung County Commissioner Chou Chun-mi, sixth left, and other officials, inspects a drainage improvement project in the county’s Linluo Township amid heavy rain yesterday.

Photo: Lo Hsin-chen, Taipei Times

As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast of Taipei, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said.

As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm is continuing to weaken and its radius is shrinking, Huang said.

When it is closest to Taiwan between tomorrow night and Friday, it could weaken to the lower limit of a moderate typhoon or the upper limit of a light typhoon, he added.

The projected path of Typhoon Saudel is pictured as of 2pm yesterday.

Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration

Forecast models show that Saudel’s path is continuously shifting northward, meaning its impact in terms of wind and rain on Taiwan would be lessened, and the chances of its storm circle touching land have significantly decreased, he said.

Several airlines have announced flight cancelations to Okinawa for today, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport said.

As of 6pm yesterday, a total of 16 flights had been canceled, including China Airlines flights CI121/120 between Taoyuan and Naha; EVA Air flights BR112/113/185/186 between Taoyuan and Naha; and Peach Aviation flights MM921/922/924/927/929/930 between Taoyuan and Naha.

Also canceled are Starlux Airlines flights JX890/891 between Taoyuan and Miyakojima, Okinawa, and Thai Lion Air flights SL380/381 between Taoyuan and Naha.

Moisture levels are expected to decrease today, although southern areas could still experience localized, brief heavy downpours in the early morning, with occasional showers expected throughout the rest of the day, Huang said.

He urged people nationwide to be aware of afternoon thunderstorms.

From tomorrow night through Friday, when Saudel would exert its strongest influence, localized, brief showers or thunderstorms could occur across the nation, Huang said.

Northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, could experience localized heavy rain, while it would be cloudy elsewhere, he added.

After the typhoon moves away, Taiwan is still forecast to remain under the influence of a large low-pressure system through next week, bringing localized, brief showers or thunderstorms to central and southern areas, and brief afternoon thunderstorms to other regions, he said.

Huang said that high waves are likely to occur along the north coast of Keelung, the eastern coastline, the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) and Lienchiang County until Saturday.

Furthermore, a large low-pressure zone remains over the waters east of the Philippines, and a new tropical system is expected to develop next week, Huang said.

It cannot be ruled out that it might strengthen into a tropical depression or a typhoon by next weekend, although its path requires further observation, he added.