Typhoon Bavi to bring 900 mm of rain, 6-meter waves to Taiwan: CWA

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Typhoon Bavi is expected to bring up to 900 millimeters of rain to mountainous areas in northern Taiwan through Sunday, while dangerous waves exceeding 6 meters prompted the Central Weather Administration (CWA) to issue its first ever "mega wave" warning on Thursday.

The CWA issued a sea warning for Bavi on Thursday afternoon, saying the typhoon is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from Friday night through Saturday. A land warning is expected to be issued between the pre-dawn hours and early Friday morning, the agency said.

The CWA said Bavi is forecast to pass through waters north of Taiwan. However, slight north-south shifts in its path as it approaches the island mean landfall cannot yet be ruled out.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Bavi was located about 870 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, and moving north-northwest at 17-25 kilometers per hour before gradually turning northwest. The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 184 kph and had a storm radius of about 380 kilometers, according to the CWA.

CWA forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun (謝佩芸) said at a Thursday evening briefing that Bavi's size means it will have a significant impact on Taiwan regardless of whether it makes landfall, with the most severe conditions expected from Friday night through Saturday.

According to the CWA's latest forecast, cumulative rainfall from Thursday through Sunday could reach 600-900 mm in mountainous areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County and Miaoli County.

New Taipei's low-lying areas could receive 500-700 mm of rain, the highest total forecast for any plains area, while Hsinchu and Miaoli counties can expect to receive 400-600 mm.

Over the next 24 hours through Friday evening, New Taipei is expected to receive the heaviest rainfall in low-lying areas, with 150-250 mm forecast.

Winds are also expected to strengthen as the typhoon approaches. From Friday night through Saturday, sustained winds and gusts of force 9 to 11 on the Beaufort scale (75-117 kph) are forecast across Taiwan and its offshore islands, with force 12 gusts (118 kph or above) possible north of Taoyuan, in Yilan County, and on Orchid Island and Green Island.

The CWA also issued its first ever "mega wave" warning since introducing the new alert system this typhoon season.

The warning covers the coastal areas of Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung counties from Thursday night through early Friday, where waves exceeding 6 meters are expected.

The CWA urged the public to stay away from coastlines, seawalls, river mouths, ports and other high-risk waterfront areas.

Waves as high as 7 meters had already been observed off Taitung and Orchid Island by Thursday evening, the agency said, adding that cell broadcast alerts have been sent to mobile phones in affected areas.