TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Bavi will not make landfall in Taiwan, but its 380-kilometer (236-mile) storm radius means millions remain in harm's way. The moderate typhoon is tracking toward the island's northern waters Friday (July 10) through Saturday.
The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) issued combined sea and land typhoon warnings at 5:30 a.m. Friday, placing Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Yilan and Hualien under the initial alert zone. The storm's center is expected to pass 100 to 150 kilometers (62 to 93 miles) from Taiwan's coast Saturday daytime.
Why Size Matters More Than Category
Bavi has weakened from a strong to moderate typhoon, with wind shear and dry air degrading its convection overnight. Yet meteorologists stress the storm's unusually large circulation — not its intensity — poses the primary threat.
"Because this typhoon's scope remains very large — with a radius of gale-force winds still at 350 to 380 kilometers — its impact on us will basically still be quite severe," CWA Section Chief Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said Friday.
As of 8 a.m., Bavi was at 20.9°N, 127.5°E, moving north-northwest at 21 km/h (13 mph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 m/s (101 mph) and gusts to 55 m/s (123 mph). The gale-force radius extends 380 kilometers on average, with the southeastern quadrant reaching 410 kilometers (255 miles).
Peak Impact: Friday Night Through Saturday
The most severe conditions are expected Friday evening through Saturday daytime. Northern Taiwan, Yilan's mountains and central mountain regions face torrential rain potentially exceeding 500 millimeters (19.7 inches), according to WeatherRisk forecaster Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇).
Coastal hazards are equally severe. Waves along Taiwan's eastern coast have reached 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 feet), with northern waters expected to see waves exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) by Saturday. "Please avoid going to the beach and do not engage in wave-watching activities," Lin said.
Regional Breakdown
Northern Taiwan faces the most dangerous gusts — Beaufort 9 to 11, or 75 to 117 km/h (47 to 73 mph) — from Friday night through Saturday night. A counterintuitive hazard accompanies the storm: the CWA issued orange-level heat warnings for Changhua, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Hualien, where foehn winds may push temperatures above 36°C (96.8°F).
Conditions should improve Saturday night as Bavi moves toward China's Zhejiang-Fujian border for landfall around midnight. Taiwan may exit the storm's wind radius by late Saturday, with warnings potentially lifted Sunday morning.
The CWA cautioned the track "still has room for adjustment." The next official bulletin is expected at 2 p.m. Friday. ◼
>>> TYPHOON ADVISORY: A typhoon is approaching or affecting Taiwan. Before arrival: Secure loose objects, stockpile 3 days of emergency supplies, charge devices, and familiarize yourself with your evacuation route. During a typhoon: Stay indoors, away from windows. Do not visit beaches, harbors, or coastal areas for wave-watching.
Avoid rivers and low-lying areas. Be alert for strong winds, heavy rainfall, landslides, and falling debris. After passage: Do not go outside immediately (the storm eye may create a temporary calm); watch for downed power lines, avoid floodwater, and check for gas leaks before re-entering buildings. Emergency contacts: General emergencies 119/1999 | Maritime emergencies 118 | Police or disaster reporting 110/119 | Power outages 1911 | Road conditions 1968.
>>> REAL-TIME TYPHOON PATH TRACKING | 即時颱風路徑追蹤:
Monitor the typhoon's projected path, intensity, and timing through these official sources:
01 | Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) — Taiwan's national weather service
→ Typhoon warnings & path forecasts: https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/P/Typhoon/TY_NEWS.html
→ Interactive typhoon map: https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/P/Typhoon/TY_TRACK.html
02 | Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) — U.S. Navy's Pacific storm tracking facility
→ Tropical warnings: https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html
03 | Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA, 気象庁) — Japan's official weather authority
→ Tropical cyclone information: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/cyclone/index.html?lang=en
04 | Windy.com — Real-time wind and rain visualization
→ Interactive forecast: https://www.windy.com/?24.800,121.000,7
