TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Currently classified as a moderate typhoon, Typhoon Khanun has significantly adjusted its projected path. Initially expected to approach China's eastern coastal areas directly, Typhoon Khanun is now expected to stall in the East China Sea and change its course towards the northeast, possibly affecting Japan and South Korea, according to the latest Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast.
As of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Typhoon Khanun's center was located 800 kilometers southeast of Taipei, moving in a north-northwest direction at 13 kilometers per hour, the CWB reported.
Though the forecast path is still being adjusted, the general direction is becoming clearer. The typhoon is expected to approach the northeastern waters of Taiwan on Thursday and Friday (Aug. 3-4) before turning northeast.
The latest forecast indicates the typhoon's storm circle may potentially make landfall in the northern regions between late Thursday night and Friday morning, putting the emergency response capabilities of the northern regions' authorities to the test.
Under the influence of Typhoon Khanun's outer circulation, heavy rain has already started falling in Greater Taipei early on Tuesday morning. The weather in the northern regions will remain unstable this week, with intermittent rain and wind due to the typhoon's outer circulation. As the typhoon approaches Thursday and Friday, rain and wind intensity will increase, and dry periods will decrease.
In the central and southern regions, afternoon thunderstorms are expected in mountainous areas for the next two days. However, as the typhoon approaches on Thursday, stronger southwestern winds will bring widespread rainfall until the weekend.
Authorities closely monitor the situation and may issue a sea warning as early as tomorrow to inform the public.