TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- As the periphery of Typhoon Lekima lashes northern Taiwan this morning, eight cities and counties have announced that they are halting work and classes today (Aug. 9).

As of 8 a.m. this morning, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Typhoon Lekima was 240 kilometers northeast of Taipei moving northwest at a speed of 12 kilometers per hour (kph). The typhoon has a radius of 280 kilometers and is packing maximum sustained winds of 183 kph with gusts of up to 226 kph, based on CWB data.

As the typhoon has shifted northward the threat to Hualien has been reduced and work and the land and sea warnings for the county has been lifted. However, sea and land warnings are still in effect for New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Keelung City, Yilan County, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, and Lienchiang County.

The southern periphery of Typhoon Lekima is currently blanketing New Taipei City, Taipei City, and Yilan. The CWB predicts that Lekima's greatest impact on Taiwan will be felt this morning, before gradually weakening by noon today as it shifts to the northeast.

In anticipation of strong winds and heavy rain wrought by Lekima, the following cities and counties have canceled work and classes today:

As the effects on western, southern, and eastern Taiwan from Typhoon Lekima are considered to be milder, the following cities and counties are holding work and classes as usual:

The latest information on work and school cancelations can be seen on the Directorate-General of Personnel and Administration website.