TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) announced on Wednesday (Oct. 2) that Typhoon Krathon (颱風山陀兒) weakened to a moderate typhoon at 2 a.m. and may further downgrade to a mild typhoon or tropical storm.
At 6 a.m., the typhoon's center was located at 21.5 degrees north latitude and 119.3 degrees east longitude, about 160 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung. It is moving north-northeast at 7 to 10 kilometers per hour.
The storm's outer bands have reached southern Taiwan and Taitung, posing a threat to areas south of Taichung, including Nantou, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu.
Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華), a senior technical specialist at the CWA, noted that although the radius of the level-7 windstorm remains at 220 kilometers, the radius of the level-10 windstorm has shrunk to 70 kilometers.
Wu stated that the typhoon's slow movement and the influence of the northeast wind will likely weaken it further as it approaches land, potentially downgrading to a tropical depression. Despite the weakening, Wu warned that the storm's strong winds and heavy rainfall will continue to impact the region.
The CWA has issued heavy rain warnings for Pingtung and Taitung County, with localized torrential rain expected. Hualien County's mountainous areas and Pingtung County could also see heavy to extremely heavy rain.
Additionally, Yilan County, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Hualien County, Penghu County, Lanyu, and Green Island should prepare for heavy rain. Keelung and areas from New Taipei to Hsinchu may experience heavy rain as well.
The CWA has also issued strong wind alerts, predicting gusts of 11 to 13 levels in southern regions, coastal areas from Taichung to Chiayi, and the Hengchun Peninsula. Other areas, including Kinmen and Matsu, may face gusts of 9 to 10 levels.
