Sea warning issued for Typhoon Podul: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a sea warning for Typhoon Podul on Tuesday as it moves closer to Taiwan and said the storm's effects could be felt in Taiwan starting Wednesday.

The CWA issued its first sea warning for Podul at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. As of 8 a.m., the typhoon's center was located 730 kilometers east-southeast of Taitung County in eastern Taiwan.

The storm was moving west-northwest at 25 kph, with sustained winds of 119 kph and gusts of up to 155 kph. It is expected to be located 140 km east-southeast of Taitung County at around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, the CWA said.

A land warning for the storm -- which indicates that parts of Taiwan are expected to be within the storm's outer rim within 18 hours -- is expected to be issued early Tuesday afternoon.

CWA weather forecaster Liu Yu-chi (劉宇其) said Podul appeared to have intensified as it approached Taiwan and was expected to pass over the island during the day on Wednesday before reaching the Taiwan Strait after sunset.

He also warned of strong coastal winds from the storm, especially along Taiwan's west coast south of Changhua County and along the coasts of Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, with waves of up to five meters possible near the storm's center.

The CWA said the skies across Taiwan would be partly sunny on Tuesday but that afternoon showers were likely in western and mountainous areas.

The northern coast in Keelung and the northeast could also see brief showers after nightfall.

Taiwan is forecast to feel Podul's impact from Wednesday, with showers and extremely heavy rain likely in the east and southeast as well as mountainous areas in the south, the CWA warned.

On Tuesday, meanwhile, temperatures were forecast to remain high around Taiwan. The CWA has issued a heat alert for parts of Taipei and New Taipei, where highs could reach 36 degrees Celsius.

Daytime highs across Taiwan could exceed 30 degrees, with nighttime temperatures remaining at 25-27 degrees, the CWA said.