Taiwan is bracing for heavy rain in the south and rough seas around outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu), as Typhoon Saudel passes north toward eastern China, with forecasters yesterday warning of localized flooding over the next two days.Saudel is expected to pass closest to Taiwan today, when its outer rain bands are forecast to brush past Matsu, before making landfall at about noon in China’s Zhejiang Province and weakening significantly, the Central Weather Administration said.The storm’s outer bands, combined with strengthening southwesterly winds, are expected to bring heavy rain to southern and southeastern Taiwan today, it said.
The projected path of Typhoon Saudel is pictured as of 5:30pm yesterday.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
As the storm approaches Matsu, the rain and winds there would also intensify, it said.Yesterday morning, showers were already drenching central and southern Taiwan, with Pingtung County recording more than 100mm of rainfall, the agency said.
As of 5pm, Saudel was about 460km northeast of Matsu, moving west-southwest at 18kph to 25kph, it added.
