Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) A tropical storm that formed over the Pacific developed into Typhoon Trami Sunday morning and is expected to move toward the Okinawa region of Japan with the possibility of influencing the weather in Taiwan Friday and Saturday, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast.

As of 8 a.m. Sunday, the typhoon was located about 1,620 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi on Taiwan's southernmost tip traveling at a speed of 17 kilometers per hour in a west-north westerly direction, according to the CWB.

Trami is packing maximum sustained winds of 119 kph, with gusts of up to 155 kph, according to CWB data.

Trami will likely affect the weather in Taiwan Friday and Saturday although to what extent is still unknown, The CWB said, adding that it could not forecast the exact path of the storm thus far.

It said rough waves are expected along southeastern coastal areas of Taiwan, including Green Island, Orchid Island and the Hengchun Peninsula from Monday and it urged people not to engage in seaside activities.

Cloudy to sunny skies are expected across Taiwan Sunday morning but under the influence of northeasterly winds, temperatures in northern and eastern Taiwan could dip in the afternoon with a chance of occasional showers, the CWB said.

Daytime high temperatures could hit 31-33 degrees Celsius throughout Taiwan with a high level of ultraviolet radiation around noon, according to the CWB.

From Monday to Thursday, with northeasterly winds gaining strength, rainfall duration and amount in the windward northern and northeastern parts of Taiwan will increase with a chance of heavy rain in some areas, the CWB forecast.

It added that Halien and Taitung can see sporadic showers, while cloudy skies and afternoon showers could be expected for central and southern Taiwan during the period.

The mercury will continue to fall in the north and northeast Monday, with highs expected to drop to 28-29 degrees and lows to 22-24 degrees, according to the CWB.

(By Wang Shu-fen and Evelyn Kao)
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