Sea warning for Typhoon Saudel likely early Thursday

Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, Saudel was located about 650 kilometers east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 162 kph, CWA data showed.

Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said.

The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, Lin added.

According to the latest forecast, Saudel's track has shifted northward toward China's Zhejiang Province, bringing it closer to Taiwan's outlying Matsu Islands.

The CWA expects to issue a sea warning, indicating hazardous typhoon conditions in waters surrounding Taiwan within 24 hours, early Thursday, Lin said.

Lin added that while the typhoon's circulation is forecast to mainly affect waters north of Matsu, it could also brush the outlying islands themselves, meaning a land warning for Matsu remains possible.

Rainfall is expected to remain scattered across central and southern Taiwan on Wednesday, while most other areas see afternoon thunderstorms.

Localized heavy rain is possible south of Hsinchu and in mountainous areas of northern Taiwan before showers ease later in the day.

On Thursday, rain will mainly affect areas south of Miaoli during the day before expanding across western Taiwan from the evening and continuing through Friday, when Saudel's impact on Taiwan is expected to be most noticeable.

The CWA forecast localized heavy rain in central and southern Taiwan, with southern areas at risk of short-duration heavy rainfall during the period.

As the typhoon moves away from Taiwan on Saturday, the island is expected to remain under the influence of a broad low-pressure system, bringing isolated brief showers to the Keelung north coast and eastern Taiwan, with afternoon thunderstorms elsewhere, Lin said.

He also warned that subsiding air associated with Saudel's outer circulation could push daytime temperatures to 33-35 degrees Celsius or higher across northern and eastern Taiwan and the outlying Kinmen islands on Thursday and Friday.

Lin said that the ongoing high-tide period could increase the risk of flooding in low-lying areas during intense downpours.

Long swells are expected along Taiwan's north coast, eastern coast, Hengchun Peninsula and Matsu from Wednesday through the weekend, he added.