TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Podul (颱風楊柳), the eleventh tropical storm of 2025, formed at 2 a.m. Friday (Aug. 8) and is tracking northwest across the Pacific. Weather forecasters predict the storm will approach Taiwan between Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 13-14), potentially bringing severe weather conditions to the island nation.
The meteorological Facebook page "Look Weather Typhoon" (觀氣象看天氣 ) reports that Pacific high-pressure systems will steer Podul westward, though the storm's exact trajectory remains uncertain. The forecasting service indicates the typhoon's potential impact zone spans from Taiwan to the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽), noting that Podul's compact circulation core makes its early development environment critical for determining future intensity.
Weather analysts note that Podul developed under optimal conditions, featuring minimal wind shear and elevated sea surface temperatures. The merging of western Pacific and Ryukyu Islands (琉球) high-pressure centers from Saturday through Monday (Aug. 9-11) could generate substantial wind shear as the typhoon continues its westward movement.
American GFS weather models forecast gradual intensification of Podul from Saturday through Monday (Aug. 9-11), while European EC models suggest potential weakening and possible dissipation near the Ryukyu Islands. Should wind shear diminish and sea temperatures remain elevated, Podul could rapidly intensify into a moderate typhoon as it approaches Taiwan's eastern waters Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 12-13). ◼
