Heavy, extreme rain warnings issued for five cities, counties

Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) Heavy rain and extreme heavy rain are forecast in five cities and counties in southern Taiwan Wednesday due to the outer reaches of Typhoon Lingling, which earlier in the day was upgraded to a typhoon, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

Extreme heavy rain advisories were issued for Kaohsiung and Tainan cities, while heavy rain advisories were issued for Chiayi county and city as well as Pingtung County, the CWB said, as Lingling strengthened into a typhoon at 8 a.m.

People in those areas should be on alert for lightning and strong winds, as well as possible flooding caused by torrential rain, the CWB said.

Other parts of Taiwan, especially northern and northeastern areas can expect to see isolated showers and thunderstorms, it added.

Due to the rainfall, temperatures around Taiwan are likely to drop with daytime temperatures forecast to be 30-32 degrees Celsius across the country, the CWB said.

As of 8 a.m., Typhoon Lingling was located 390 kilometers east of Taiwan's southernmost tip Eluanbi, moving northeasterly at a speed of 9 kilometers per hour, the CWB said.

The typhoon was carrying maximum winds of 118 kph with gusts of up to 154 kph, the CWB data showed.

On its current path, Lingling is likely to continue to move in a north-northeasterly direction as it passes through seas off eastern Taiwan.

A sea warning will not be issued for the time being as the typhoon is expected to move further east and away from Taiwan, the bureau added.