Typhoon Saudel unlikely to make landfall in Taiwan: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has forecast that Typhoon Saudel has a low probability of making landfall in Taiwan, but said its storm circulation will affect northern Taiwan and the Matsu islands.

CWA data indicated that as of 2 p.m. Monday, Typhoon Saudel was located 1,340 kilometers east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 22 kilometers per hour and was expected to slow to 19 kph. It had maximum sustained winds of 184 kph.

The agency forecast the storm would be situated at about 880 km east-northeast of Taipei at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

CWA forecaster Yeh Chih-chun (葉致均) said Typhoon Saudel had intensified into a powerful typhoon and would continue moving toward the Ryukyu Islands.

After the typhoon reaches the Ryukyu Islands, conditions will become unfavorable for further development, causing it to gradually weaken, Yeh said, expecting the storm to have its most significant impact on Taiwan from Thursday through Friday.

Yeh said Saudel was forecast to move over waters north of Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, with northern Taiwan and Matsu potentially coming under the typhoon's storm circulation.

Current data indicate that the chances of the typhoon's center making landfall in Taiwan are low, but uncertainty remains over its track in the later stages, including how close it will come to Taiwan, he added.

Yeh said Taiwan will be affected by southwesterly winds and a low-pressure system from Monday night through Tuesday, resulting in continued unstable weather.

Localized heavy rain will persist in areas south of Chiayi and in eastern Taiwan, although prolonged periods of heavy rainfall are expected to become less frequent, he said.

Strong southeasterly winds will affect northern coastal areas near Keelung and northeastern Taiwan on Tuesday morning, bringing a chance of localized heavy rain, the forecaster added.