Tropical Storm Podul closing in on Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Monday that a land warning for Tropical Storm Podul could be issued around midday Tuesday, after a possible sea warning late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, as the storm approaches Taiwan.

The agency said the storm will bring heavy wind and rain when it most likely makes landfall in Hualien County and Taitung County on Wednesday.

According to the CWA, eastern Taiwan will begin feeling Tropical Storm Podul's outer circulation Tuesday evening, with wind and rain intensifying into Wednesday.

The storm is forecast to exit Taiwan by late afternoon or evening, the weather agency said.

Extremely heavy rain (official classified as at least 200 millimeters in 24 hours or 100 mm in 3 hours) is expected in Yilan County, Hualien County and Taitung County, as well as in mountainous areas in southern Taiwan.

Weather on Monday and Tuesday will remain dominated by afternoon thunderstorms, with extremely heavy rain possible in Greater Taipei and mountainous areas in northern Taiwan, the CWA said.

The center of Tropical Storm Podul was located 1,290 kilometers east-southeast of Taipei as of 8 a.m. Monday, moving west at 24 kph. It was packing sustained winds of 108 kph and gusts up to 137 kph, according to CWA data.

The Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) announced Monday that all ferry services between Taitung County and Green Island will be canceled from midday Tuesday to Wednesday.

Moreover, all ferry services between Taitung County and Orchid Island and between Houbihu in southern Taiwan's Kenting National Park and Orchid Island will be canceled on Wednesday, the MPB said.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said Podul's track has shifted south, with more than an 80 percent chance its storm circle will affect Taiwan.

Wu, an adjunct associate professor at National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, said the storm is likely to maintain peak strength before landfall and weaken only after passing over land.