The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a sea warning for Typhoon Dolphin at 2:30pm yesterday, as the storm steadily moved toward the waters north of Taiwan, with heavy or extremely heavy rain expected over the weekend in the central mountains and the north.As of 5pm yesterday, Dolphin was about 680km east-northeast of Taipei and moving west at 10kph, with maximum sustained winds of 144kph and a storm radius of 280km, CWA data showed.While the typhoon has slowed slightly, it remains within forecast expectations and would not be longer than previously predicted, CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) told a news conference.
The projected path of Typhoon Dolphin is pictured as of 2pm yesterday.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The storm is projected to be closest to Taiwan today and tomorrow, before likely making landfall in China’s Zhejiang Province between tomorrow night and Monday, Chu said.Dolphin is expected to maintain its strength as a moderate typhoon, she said.
As it passes north of Taiwan, it would bring significant winds and high waves, she said, adding that heavy to extremely heavy rain is forecast for the northern areas and central mountains, while mountainous regions north of Taichung should be on high alert for torrential rainfall.CWA senior weather specialist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said long swells were expected through Monday along the north coast of Keelung, eastern Taiwan, Green Island (綠島), Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島).Central and northern coastal areas, and Penghu County are also expected to experience long swells over the weekend, Wu said.The agency urged people to exercise caution near the coast and avoid water activities because of hazardous sea conditions.Earlier yesterday, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said that as the typhoon moves farther away from Taiwan next week, southwesterly winds are expected to bring localized showers or thunderstorms and possible heavy rain to southwestern Taiwan.Other areas are forecast to remain hot and mostly sunny, although afternoon thunderstorms are possible in parts of northern and central Taiwan, he added.The southwesterly winds are expected to weaken from Thursday, but abundant moisture would continue to bring localized morning rain to southwestern Taiwan and possible afternoon thunderstorms to the western parts of the country, Wu said.
