Typhoon Bavi shows signs of strengthening, but impact uncertain: CWA

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) Typhoon Bavi, currently moving westward over waters east of the Philippines, is showing signs of strengthening, though its potential impact on Taiwan remains uncertain, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Friday.

As of 8 a.m., the center of the storm was located 3,800 kilometers east-southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost tip, moving westward but slowing down from 16 kilometers per hour to 13 kph, CWA data showed.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 137 kph near its center, with gusts of up to 173 kph.

Due to favorable environmental conditions, the CWA said Bavi is expected to continue to strengthen in the coming days.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the typhoon is expected to reach waters southeast of the Ryukyu Islands at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

After that, it is forecast to gradually turn northwest as it approaches waters off Taiwan's eastern coast from Thursday, Wu said, but how much of a threat it posed to Taiwan remained uncertain.

In terms of the weather, he said Taiwan will be under the influence of a Pacific high-pressure system over the next few days, bringing mostly partly cloudy to sunny skies across the country, with localized brief afternoon showers in mountainous areas.

With the hot, summer-like weather on Friday, Wu said highs could reach up to around 38 degrees Celsius nationwide, and he urged the public to take precautions against sun exposure and heatstroke.

As of noon Friday, the highest recorded temperature in Taiwan was 38.4 degrees in Zhutian Township in Pingtung County, while temperatures between 36 and 37 degrees were recorded in Taipei, New Taipei, and Tainan cities and Changhua County.