Taiwan Issues Sea Warning Alert as Typhoon Bavi Approaches from East-Southeast

Taiwan is preparing for the approach of powerful Typhoon Bavi, with sea warnings likely to be issued as early as today and land warnings possibly late tonight or early tomorrow, as the storm is forecast to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds to northern and central areas from tomorrow evening through Saturday.

Typhoon Bavi’s Current Position and Forecast Path

As of 2pm yesterday, Bavi was located about 1,380km east-southeast of Taiwan’s southernmost point Oluanpi, moving west-northwest at 17-21kph, with wind gusts up to 149kph. [1] The typhoon is classified as a super typhoon by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center and is expected to weaken gradually but still affect Taiwan as a lower-end strong or upper-end moderate typhoon. [1] Bavi remains a large, powerful typhoon, with a radius of 380km. [1] It is most likely to pass northeast of Taiwan, but interaction with the nation could bring it closer, the CWA said. [1] Bavi is expected to maintain its strength and size through yesterday before gradually weakening starting today, but it is still expected to affect Taiwan as either a “lower-end strong typhoon” or an “upper-end moderate typhoon,” Yeh said. [1] As of 2pm yesterday, Bavi was about 1,380km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 17kph to 21kph, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. [2] The storm, classified as a “super typhoon” by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center, had wind gusts of up to 149kph, CWA data showed. [2] The projected path of Typhoon Bavi as of 2pm is pictured yesterday. [1]

Warnings and Expected Impacts on Taiwan

A sea warning for Typhoon Bavi could be issued as early as today, followed by a land warning from late tonight to early tomorrow morning, as the storm approaches Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. [1] If Bavi follows its projected path, the CWA could issue a sea warning as early as today during the day, with a land warning possible between late tonight or early tomorrow morning. [1] The typhoon’s outer circulation is expected to begin affecting Taiwan this evening, bringing increasing rainfall to northern Taiwan, including Taoyuan and areas northward, as well as Yilan County. [1] The typhoon is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from tomorrow evening through Saturday, when it passes closest to the nation, the CWA said. [1] Heavy rain is expected in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan, and mountainous areas in Hualien and southern Taiwan, with extremely heavy rainfall possible in mountainous areas of northern Taiwan. [1] Yeh urged the public to prepare for the storm, saying Bavi is large and powerful, and could bring significant wind and rainfall regardless of whether it continues moving in a northwestern direction. [1]

Taiwan prepares for Typhoon Bavi as the super typhoon approaches from the east-southeast. — Source: taipei-times

Transportation Suspensions and Travel Advisories

All ferry services in eastern Taiwan were suspended yesterday afternoon, the Maritime and Port Bureau said. [2] Services could resume on Sunday, if the weather permits, it added. [2] The Keelung-Matsu route is also to be suspended from today through Saturday, while routes linking Kaohsiung and Budai (布袋) with Penghu, as well as Donggang (東港) and Yanpu (鹽埔) with Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球) are to see partial or full suspensions over the same period, the bureau said. [2] The bureau urged travelers to return from outlying islands yesterday and today, and postpone nonessential trips to avoid being stranded. [2] In Taitung County, ferry operators spent yesterday morning transporting tourists back from Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) before afternoon services were canceled. [2] China Airlines said it would waive ticket rebooking fees for flights scheduled between today and Saturday if changes are made by July 31, although normal refund rules would still apply. [2]

Preparations by Local Authorities and Residents

Taiwan yesterday stepped up preparations for Typhoon Bavi, suspending ferry services to outlying islands, closing tourist attractions, preparing traffic restrictions and offering flexible airline ticket changes. [2] Food and other daily necessities were rushed to the islands. [2] The Coast Guard Administration said 86 people had been transported to Taitung County from the county’s islands, while 1,325 visitors remained on Green Island. [2] At Fugang Fishing Harbor (富岡漁港), more than 10 fishing boat owners hired a crane to lift inflatable fishing rafts onto the shore to protect them from strong winds and waves, as previous typhoons had caused vessels to collide in the harbor. [2] In Taitung, banana farmers rushed to harvest crops before the storm, while traditional markets and supermarkets reported an about 30 percent increase in shoppers stocking up on supplies. [2] Authorities also announced the pre-emptive closure of Gueishan Island (龜山島) off Yilan County from today through Sunday, given expected high waves and strong winds. [2] The Highway Bureau said it would closely monitor landslide-prone routes, including the Suhua (蘇花) and Beiyi (北宜) highways (part of Provincial Highway No. 9) and the Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway No. 7). [2] The newly opened Danjiang Bridge (淡江大橋) on Provincial Highway No. 61 could face traffic restrictions if winds strengthen, the Highway Bureau said. [2] Speed limits would be reduced if average wind speeds reach 62kph to 74kph, and the bridge closed if they reach 89kph to 102kph, it added. [2]

Specific Risks for Northern and Mountainous Areas

The Taipei City Government weather team said it expects the city to enter Bavi’s storm circle at about 8pm tomorrow, with the heaviest rain expected from tomorrow evening through Saturday evening. [2] Officials warned of wind gusts of 133kph to 149kph and as much as 400mm of accumulated rainfall during the peak of the storm, with mountainous areas facing risk of extremely heavy rain. [2] The storm’s outer circulation will begin affecting Taiwan this evening with increasing rainfall in northern areas including Taoyuan, Yilan County, and mountainous regions, with the greatest impact expected tomorrow evening through Saturday. [1] Traffic restrictions are prepared for bridges and highways, with potential wind-related speed reductions or closures, and airlines are offering flexible ticket changes through Saturday. [2] Yeh Chih-chun (葉致均) said Bavi remains a large, powerful typhoon, with a radius of 380km. [1]

What to watch next: Sea warnings could be issued as early as today during the day, with a land warning possible between late tonight or early tomorrow morning, and the typhoon is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from tomorrow evening through Saturday.