Typhoon Fung-Wong could trigger sea warning by Monday: CWA

Taipei, Nov. 8 (CNA) Typhoon Fung-Wong could prompt a sea warning as early as Monday, with extremely heavy rain forecast for northern and eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Saturday.

The typhoon is expected to strengthen and make landfall in Luzon in the northern Philippines, before gradually weakening due to "unfavorable sea and atmospheric conditions" as it turns north toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) told local media.

Starting Monday, the Greater Taipei area and mountainous parts of Hualien County could see rainfall at extremely heavy levels or above from the combined effects of the typhoon's periphery and seasonal northeasterly winds, Chang said.

Heavy to extremely heavy rain is also expected along the Keelung north coast and in the Hengchun Peninsula on Monday, he added.

If the storm's path does not change significantly, a land warning could be issued Tuesday, with landfall expected north of central Taiwan between late Wednesday and early Thursday, Chang said.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, Typhoon Fung-Wong was over the ocean southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, moving west at 35 kilometers per hour, according to CWA data.