TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA) predicts Tropical Storm Usagi will begin to make landfall in Taiwan on Friday night (Nov. 15) bringing winds and rain to the southeast.
The CWA issued a land warning for Usagi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday for Pingtung County, Taitung County, and Kaohsiung. A sea warning is in place for the Bashi Channel, Dongsha Islands, waters off southeast Taiwan, and the south Taiwan Strait.
As of 8 a.m., the CWA said Usagi was about 200 km southwest of Eluanbi moving northwest at 14 kph with maximum sustained winds of 108 kph and gusts of up to 136 kph.
CWA meteorologist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) predicts Usagi's radius will make landfall in the Hengchun Peninsula on Friday night and the eye on Saturday evening.
Once over Taiwan, Wu said Usagi may weaken into a tropical depression before moving out to sea. Wu said if Usagi's intensity does not decrease, it could still linger over Taiwan on Sunday.
Heavy rain is expected in Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, Hualien, Pingtung, Green Island, and Orchid Island on Friday. Wu said rain on Saturday will depend on Usagi's weakening or movement.
The CWA Friday issued a strong wind advisory for Keelung, Hengchun Peninsula, Matsu, Pingtung, Orchid Island, Green Island, and Penghu. Wu said large waves are likely along the east coast, southwest coast, Hengchun Peninsula, Penghu, Orchid Island, and Green Island.
