Game on:
Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued its first land warning for Typhoon Megi Monday morning, following a sea warning overnight, as the storm approached the island from the east.
Megi is likely to make landfall in an area near the border of Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan Tuesday before sweeping across the island with powerful winds and heavy rain and moving out to sea that night, according to the CWB forecast.
It will affect the island the most on Tuesday and Wednesday, the CWB said, adding that Taiwan is expected to be out of the storm circle of the typhoon Wednesday morning.
Sunny skies not for long -pal in Tamsui said it was kind of typhoony in the morning over there.
Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) Rain is expected across all areas of Taiwan on Monday as Typhoon Megi takes aim at the island, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said.
In parts of northern Taiwan and the northeastern county of Yilan, intermittent rain had already started in the morning and heavier rainfall can be expected in the afternoon, the bureau said.
Rain will also begin in the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung as well as in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan later in the day, according to the CWB.
From Accuweather:
On Monday, outer rain bands from Megi will begin to move into Japan’s southernmost Ryukyu Islands and eastern Taiwan, but the most intense winds will remain across the Philippines Sea posing hazards only to shipping interests as rain, wind and seas increase around its center.
Danger to lives and property will heighten Monday night as the typhoon takes aim at land.
Near the point of landfall in southeastern Taiwan, wind gusts are expected to be near 200 km/h (125 mph). Rainfall will exceed 250 mm (10 inches) in many areas. Over 500 mm (20 inches) could fall in some of the mountainous terrain.
> Even though Megi will pass well to the south of Taipei, the city could still see damaging wind gusts of 115-145 km/h (70-90 mph). Power cuts and minor structural damage are possible.
There is a greater risk of Megi causing wind damage and flooding across Taiwan since the island has been affected by both Super Typhoon Meranti and Typhoon Malakas in the last two weeks.
"Even though Megi will not be nearly as strong as Meranti, it could cause more damage than expected because of infrastructure already weakened by Meranti and the glancing blow from Malakas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
Already saturated and loose soil could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.