Typhoon Saudel forecast to bring heavy rain to southern Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Taiwan is bracing for heavy rain in the south and rough seas around the outlying Matsu islands, as Typhoon Saudel passes north towards eastern China, with forecasters warning Thursday of localized flooding over the next two days.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Saudel is expected to pass closest to Taiwan on Friday, when its outer rain bands are forecast to brush past Matsu, before making landfall around midday in China's Zhejiang Province and weakening significantly.

The storm's outer bands, combined with strengthening southwesterly winds, are expected to bring heavy rain to southern and southeastern Taiwan from Thursday night into Friday, the CWA said.

As the storm approaches the Matsu islands, the rain and winds there will also intensify on Friday, the CWA said.

On Thursday morning, showers were already drenching central and southern Taiwan, with Pingtung County recording more than 100 millimeters of rainfall, according to the CWA.

Northern and eastern Taiwan remained mostly cloudy to sunny on Thursday, but isolated afternoon thunderstorms were likely in mountainous areas, the CWA said.

The CWA on Thursday issued weather alerts for Chiayi and areas further south, warning of heavy rain, lightning strikes, and strong wind gusts.

It also warned of landslides and rockfalls in mountainous areas in the south and flooding in low-lying areas.

As of 11 a.m., Saudel was centered about 520 kilometers east-northeast of Matsu, packing maximum sustained winds of 126 kph, with gusts of 162 kph, and moving west-southwest at 12-18 kph, the CWA said.

Although the storm is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan, the CWA issued a sea warning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, saying the typhoon poses a threat in waters north of Taiwan, particularly near Matsu.

Vessels operating in that area are advised to exercise extreme caution, the CWA said.

It also warned of rough seas, saying waves of over 2 meters were already bashing the coasts of northern and eastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula, Matsu, Green Island and Orchid Island.

The CWA cautioned that the high tides could increase the risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas if the heavy rainfall coincides with high tide.

In addition, strong wind advisories remained in effect through Thursday evening for New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Pingtung County, Matsu and Orchid Island, warning of sustained winds of 41-51 kph and gusts of 63-75 kph.

Meanwhile, the CWA on Thursday issued a heat advisory for Taipei, New Taipei, Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Matsu, saying that temperatures may exceed 36 degrees Celsius because of a subsidence associated with southwesterly airflow.