A sea warning is expected for Super Typhoon Hinnamnor on Friday, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Wednesday, adding that it does not rule out the possibility of a land warning.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the storm was located around 780 kilometers east of Taipei, moving in a southwesterly direction at a speed of 22 km per hour, packing sustained winds of 198 kph and gusts of up to 245 kph, according to CWB data.
Hinnamnor could reach its strongest in the next 12 hours, with its radius forecast to reach 300 km within 72 hours, forecasters said.
Taiwan may see more significant impact from Hinnamnor on Friday and Saturday, when the storm will be closest to the country, the bureau said.
While a sea warning is likely around Friday morning, whether there is a land warning will depend on the strength of Hinnamnor and how much it veers northward toward Japan's main islands and South Korea before moving in the direction of Taiwan, the CWB said.
The path of the typhoon may be determined by its interaction with a tropical depression to its south and a Pacific high pressure area to its east, according to forecasters.
From late on Wednesday to Sunday, the storm's periphery could bring showers to northern and northeastern parts of Taiwan, the bureau said.
Central and southern Taiwan could see showers from Friday to Sunday, when Hinnamnor will begin to move away from the country, it said.
As a precaution, the Tourism Bureau announced Wednesday that the Guishan Island scenic area in northeastern Taiwan will be temporarily closed from Thursday to Saturday due to the increased chances of strong winds and high waves.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel