Typhoon Bavi likely closest to Taiwan Friday-Saturday: CWA

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) Typhoon Bavi is expected to make its closest approach to Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, with a high chance that a sea warning will be issued as the storm nears the island, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Sunday.

As of 2 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was located about 3,030 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost tip, and moving west-northwest at 17 km per hour, according to the CWA.

The storm, which has a radius of 320 km, had maximum sustained winds of 198 kph near its center, CWA data showed.

CWA forecaster Lai Hsin-kuo (賴欣國) said Bavi is expected to strengthen further on Monday and could become the strongest typhoon so far this year, with maximum sustained winds reaching 227 kph and its storm radius expanding to around 350 kilometers by Wednesday.

Based on the latest forecast, Bavi is expected to turn northwest on Thursday and pass waters east to northeast of Taiwan before entering the East China Sea and heading toward China, though its direction remains subject to change.

The agency said the period of the biggest impact is expected to be Friday through Saturday. Its large circulation makes a sea warning highly likely as it approaches, though the exact timing will depend on the path it takes.

Whether a land warning is issued will depend on how sharply the typhoon turns in the coming days, Lai said.

Current forecast models indicate areas from Hsinchu County northward, as well as Yilan County and Hualien County, have more than a 40 percent chance of being affected by Bavi's storm circle, with Yilan facing the highest probability at 49 percent.

Rain is expected to begin affecting areas north of Taoyuan on Thursday. Widespread rainfall is forecast across Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, with heavy to extremely heavy rain possible in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan and eastern areas, the CWA said.