Taipei: Typhoon Bavi is expected to have its most significant impact on Taiwan from Friday night through Saturday daytime, with its storm circle predicted to extend from New Taipei's northeast coast to Yilan and Hualien counties early Saturday, as indicated by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, as of 6 p.m. Friday, the typhoon's center was situated approximately 590 kilometers east of Taiwan's southernmost point at Eluanbi, advancing northwest at a speed of 26 km per hour. The storm was generating maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near its center, coupled with gusts reaching 191 kph, and had a storm radius of 380 km.
A land warning remains active for 14 cities and counties, affecting areas from Changhua northward as well as eastern Taiwan and the outlying Matsu Islands. Sea warnings are in place for waters north of Taiwan, the northern Taiwan Strait, waters off northeastern and southeastern Taiwan, and the Bashi Channel.
CWA Forecast Center official Lin Po-tung stated the storm is projected to pass north of Taiwan, with its storm circle anticipated to contract slightly as it nears, suggesting not every part of Taiwan will be enveloped by the storm circle. Nevertheless, Lin noted the storm circle is expected to make landfall early Saturday from New Taipei's northeast coast to Yilan and Hualien counties. The typhoon is predicted to approach Taiwan most closely from midday through Saturday evening, with the most intense rainfall anticipated from Friday night through Saturday daytime. Northern Taiwan and mountainous areas in central Taiwan and Yilan might experience torrential rain, with the potential for extremely torrential rainfall in certain areas. Other regions of Taiwan are also expected to encounter heavy rain as the storm's rainbands traverse the island.
Strong winds are projected to strengthen, with coastal areas likely experiencing gusts exceeding 75 kph starting Friday night, while inland regions might encounter gusts surpassing 50 kph. On Saturday, the strongest winds are expected to permeate further inland, impacting parts of northern Taiwan and Pingtung County.
Lin remarked that the Taipei Basin is expected to endure its strongest winds from Saturday afternoon into the evening, with gusts exceeding 75 kph, while areas near the storm center along the north coast could experience even stronger gusts surpassing 118 kph.
Wave height has already approached nearly 9 meters off Taiwan's east coast, the CWA reported. Through Saturday evening, waves ranging from 4-7 meters are forecast in waters north and east of Taiwan and in the northern Taiwan Strait, while seas near the typhoon's center could exceed 10 meters.
The CWA indicated the typhoon is anticipated to proceed toward China's coast by early Sunday. However, due to the warning area also encompassing the Matsu Islands, sea and land warnings for all of Taiwan are unlikely to be rescinded before early Sunday morning or later.