Sea, land warnings for tropical storm expected Tuesday: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Sunday it will likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul Tuesday morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest, based on current forecasts.

CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said at a press briefing that the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday.

As of 8:00 a.m., Sunday, the storm is located at 21.4N 138.5E, moving west at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour and packing sustained winds of 108 kph and gusts up to 136.8 kph, according to the CWA.

Lin said that the tropical storm is about 1,780 km west of Taiwan, with two possible trajectories over the next one to two days, depending on the development of the Pacific high-pressure system.

If the high-pressure system weakens, the storm will move west-northwest and encounter less favorable conditions. However, if the system remains strong, the storm will continue westward and maintain its intensity, Lin said.

Either way, the tropical storm will influence Taiwan to varying degrees, he added.