Sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul likely Tuesday: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) A sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul could be issued as early as Tuesday morning as the storm is forecast to pass north of Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Saturday.

As of 2 p.m., Podul was about 2,090 kilometers east of Taipei, moving west at 16 km per hour, with sustained winds of 83 kph and gusts up to 108 kph.

Forecasters said the storm has shifted farther north than earlier projections and is likely to weaken as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions.

If Podul remains strong and moves closer, it could bring heavy rain as it skirts northern coastal waters Wednesday, with the heaviest downpours expected Wednesday and Thursday, the CWA said.

The CWA said precipitation will ease in northern and central Taiwan as the storm moves away Thursday, though showers may continue in the south and east.

Before the storm arrives, forecasters cautioned that as the Pacific high starts to move north and weaken, afternoon thunderstorms are expected to take place in western Taiwan and eastern mountainous areas from Sunday to Tuesday, potentially bringing brief but intense downpours.