TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tropical Storm Bebinca (貝碧佳) is predicted to come closest to Taiwan between Sunday and Monday (Sept. 15-16), when showers will be likely in the north and northeast. 

As of 2 a.m., Bebinca was located 2,200 km southeast of Eluanbi heading north-northwest, reported the Central Weather Administration (CWA). Bebinca will pass through Japan's Ryukyu Islands over the weekend before impacting China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces next week.

Meteorologist Lin Te-en (林得恩), head of National Taiwan University's Center for Weather and Climate Disaster Research, said Thursday's modeling shows Bebinca's speed has slowed, its intensity increased, and storm radius expanded.  

WeatherRisk forecaster Liao Yu-ting (廖于霆) predicted that due to the influence of Bebinca’s outer circulation, intermittent rain is expected in northern and northeastern Taiwan from Sunday to Monday, bringing cooler temperatures.

Liao said for the Mid-Autumn Festival on Tuesday, current models show no direct disruption from Bebinca. However, due to moisture from a low-pressure system, the east, north coast, and northeast may experience heavy cloud cover and occasional showers. 

Liao added that moon viewing in those areas would have to be done through gaps in the clouds. Other regions will have partly cloudy to mostly clear weather, making it relatively easier to see the moon, according to Liao.