Tropical Depression affecting Taiwan may intensify into Mild Typhoon in next 48 hours
A tropical depression currently situated south-east of Taiwan may intensify into a mild typhoon today or tomorrow according to the Central Weather Bureau, or a tropical storm, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC).
Tropical Depression 27W, is currently situated around 210 kilometers south of Taipei and is generating rain and strong winds along the east coast of Taiwan. Shipping and ferry services to outer islands have been cancelled since early this morning.
According to the Central News Agency, residents of Lanyu (Orchid Island) reported squally showers this morning with typhoon-like conditions. Unsecured objects were being knocked over and blown around and there was a blackout. Due to heavy seas, ferry services to Green Island and Lanyu were cancelled at 8:30am.
At 9:00am Taitung County government issued a stop work and class order for Lanyu Township due to strong wind gusts on the island. United Daily News said that wind gusts of level 13 on the Beaufort scale were reported. Level 12 on the Beaufort scale constitutes hurricane force wind.
The eye of the storm is expected to move south-west and track south of Hengchun Peninsular. While the eye will not make landfall, the storm is expected to bring heavy rains to southern and eastern districts, according to the JWTC.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert reported: “The latest satellite imagery shows that 27W has a low-level circulation center with deep convection to the south of the center. Due to low vertical wind-shear and warm sea-surface temperatures, this system has the potential to become the next named storm.”
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