Typhoon Bavi Forces Flight Cancellations and School Closures Across Northern Taiwan
Typhoon Bavi Triggers Warnings and Travel Chaos Across Taiwan
The Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Bavi at 2:30pm yesterday and expects to issue a land warning early today. [2] The typhoon was located 920km east-southeast of Taiwan at 2pm yesterday, moving north-northeast at 20kph with maximum sustained winds of 184kph. [2] Outer rain bands will begin affecting Taiwan today, with the storm circle reaching land this evening. [2] Airlines including Starlux, Tigerair Taiwan, China Airlines and China Southern have canceled or rescheduled dozens of domestic and international flights through Sunday. [1] All Taiwanese airline flights from Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday were canceled. [1] Ferry services on multiple domestic routes in northern, eastern and southern Taiwan are suspended or adjusted from yesterday through Sunday, including full suspensions on Keelung-Matsu, Kaohsiung-Penghu, Budai-Penghu, Donggang-Siaoliouciou and eastern routes. [1] The government has 28,922 troops on standby along with 24 helicopters, over 3,300 vehicles and vessels, and 2,664 water pumps. [2] Officials are monitoring a barrier lake in Hualien County’s Wanli River basin for possible overflow. [2]
Forecast Details and Peak Impact Timeline
The outer rain bands of Typhoon Bavi would begin affecting Taiwan today, with its storm circle reaching land this evening and its level-10 wind radius covering all of northern Taiwan by noon tomorrow. [2] Rainfall is expected to intensify today and peak tomorrow, with short-duration rain in mountainous areas reaching 600mm to 900mm, while low-lying areas could also face prolonged heavy rain capable of triggering flooding and landslides. [2] Waves exceeding 6m are expected along parts of Taiwan’s northern, western and eastern coasts tomorrow, with even higher waves possible near the typhoon’s center. [2] Northern Taiwan, the northeast and outlying islands could face sustained winds exceeding 12 on the Beaufort scale, with stronger gusts possible in exposed areas. [2] Powerful winds are forecast for tomorrow, when the typhoon is expected to be closest to Taiwan, with gusts of 14 on the Beaufort scale possible in coastal parts of northern areas. [2] The typhoon is expected to weaken tomorrow night, although its effects are likely to be most strongly felt in Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow and on Sunday. [2] As of 2pm yesterday, Bavi was about 920km east-southeast of Taiwan with a radius of about 380km. [2] It was moving north-northeast at 20kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 184kph. [2]
Airline and Ferry Service Suspensions
Starlux Airlines said flights scheduled from yesterday through Sunday could be rescheduled or canceled, and urged passengers to check the latest flight information before heading to the airport. [1] Tigerair Taiwan said due to safety concerns, yesterday’s IT232 Taoyuan-Naha and IT289 Naha-Kaohsiung flights were moved up, while IT706 and IT707 between Taoyuan and Nagoya were delayed. [1] China Airlines said it moved up yesterday’s CI122/CI123 Taoyuan-Okinawa-Taoyuan flights, and would reschedule or cancel some flights today. [1] The carrier said it would cancel today’s CI120/CI121 and CI122/CI123 Taoyuan-Okinawa-Taoyuan flights, as well as CI132/CI133 Kaohsiung-Okinawa-Kaohsiung flights. [1] It also canceled Taoyuan departures to the US, Canada, Europe and Australia scheduled after 6pm today. [1] China Southern Airlines said it had canceled several Taiwan flights because of the typhoon, including today’s CZ3016/CZ3015 Taipei-Wuhan-Taipei and CZ3096/CZ3095 Taipei-Shanghai-Taipei services. [1] For tomorrow, the carrier canceled CZ3088/CZ3087 Taipei-Shenzhen-Taipei, CZ3098/CZ3097 Taipei-Guangzhou-Taipei, CZ3096/CZ3095 Taipei-Shanghai-Taipei and CZ3024/CZ3023 Taipei-Zhengzhou-Taipei flights. [1] The Maritime and Port Bureau said ferry services on several domestic routes would be suspended or adjusted due to the storm. [1] Ferry services in northern, eastern and southern Taiwan would be progressively suspended from yesterday through tomorrow. [1] In northern Taiwan, the Keelung-Matsu ferry would be suspended from yesterday through tomorrow and is expected to resume trips on Sunday. [1] In southern Taiwan, the Kaohsiung-Penghu ferry continued service until 11am yesterday, while services would be canceled today and on Sunday, and no trips have been scheduled for Saturday. [1] On the Budai-Penghu route, some ferries departed earlier than scheduled yesterday, while all services from today to tomorrow would be suspended. [1] Some ferries were canceled yesterday on the route linking Donggang Township and Siaoliouciou Island, and all services would be suspended from today to tomorrow. [1] All services on the Yanpu to Siaoliouciou route would be suspended from yesterday to tomorrow. [1] In eastern Taiwan, all ferry services were suspended from Wednesday afternoon through tomorrow. [1] Operations on Sunday would be subject to further assessment based on sea and weather conditions. [1]
Work and School Closures, Test Postponement
Work and class are canceled today for Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu county and city, as well as Miaoli, Hualien, Lienchiang and Yilan counties. [2] Taichung and Nantou County suspended classes and work from 6pm today and all of tomorrow. [2] Work and classes would proceed as normal for Yunlin, Changhua, Pingtung, Taitung and Kinmen counties. [2] The government has convened disaster preparedness meetings with all 22 local governments and postponed the university Advanced Subjects Test originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday to Monday and Tuesday next week to ensure the safety of students and staff. [2]
Government and Military Preparedness Measures
Premier Cho Jung-tai told a Cabinet meeting that he had told government agencies and local authorities to be on high alert today and tomorrow, when the typhoon is likely to have the greatest impact on Taiwan. [2] The Ministry of National Defense has 28,922 troops on standby, while 24 helicopters, 3,355 military rescue vehicles and vessels, and 2,664 water pumps have been pre-positioned nationwide. [2] Officials are closely monitoring a barrier lake in Hualien County’s Wanli River basin, where heavy rainfall could trigger an overflow. [2] Local authorities have been instructed to review evacuation plans, shelters and warning systems. [2] The Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for the storm at 2:30pm yesterday, advising of heightened danger in eastern areas and in the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan. [2]
What to watch next: The typhoon is expected to weaken tomorrow night, although its effects are likely to be most strongly felt in Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow and on Sunday.
