Update: Super Typhoon Maria poised to pounce on Taiwan Tuesday

更新：強烈颱風瑪麗亞準備在星期二撲向台灣

Super Typhoon Maria is predicted toimpact TaiwanTuesdayand take a full day to pass over the country


Update: 07/09 2:30 p.m. -CWBissued a sea warning at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon (July 9), with a land warning likely before midnight.Since land warnings are issued 18 hours before the periphery of a typhoon impacts land, it can be deduced that the CWB is anticipating that the periphery of Maria will make landfall on Tuesday evening, around 6p.m.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Super Typhoon Maria is poised to strike northern Taiwan on Tuesday (July 10) and it is anticipatedthat the storm will take a full day to pass over the country, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

As the category 5 typhoon nears Taiwan, a sea warning is likely to be issued this afternoon and as the storm is estimated to have a90 percent chance of striking northern and northeastern Taiwan, a land warning is likely in the early morning tomorrow, according to the CWB. The typhoon is expected to first impact at some point in the afternoon on Tuesday and continue to affect northern Taiwan until Wednesday afternoon.

As of 9 a.m. this morning, Maria was 1,280kilometers southeast of Taipei rapidly moving west-northwest toward northern Taiwan ata speed of 30 kilometers per hour, according to the CWB. Maria is registering maximum sustained windsof 198 kilometers per hour with wind gusts of up to 244 kilometers per hour.


Image from Himawari-8 satellite. (Japan Meteorological Agency)

Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明), CEO and founder of WeatherRisk Explore Inc., said that when Maria closes in on Taiwan, its power may weaken slightly, but it cannot be ignored. He emphasized that "this really isa powerful super typhoon," and Maria's structure is solid with a clearly distinct eye that is nearly 50 kilometers in diameter.

Peng even described the size of the typhoon's eye as being as large as the "Taipei Basin." When the storm strikes Taiwan, people from central, northern and northeastern Taiwan will all feel its effects, and therefore need to stay alert and monitor weather reports.


(CWB satellite image)

From July 10 to July 11, it is estimated that flat areas of Taiwan will see 100 mm to 200 mm of rain and mountainous areas could see 200 mm to 400 mm of precipitation, with the weather finally clearing on Thursday morning (July 12). The New Taipei City Fire Department citeda weather risk company as having estimated that New Taipei could see as much as 400 mm to 550 mm of rain from July 10 through July 11.

Although Maria has not yet started to impact Taiwan today, northern and eastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula, and coastal areas of the Matsu Islands will see large waves, therefore people visiting coastal areas are advised to exercise caution.


(Image from Windy.com)

Eastern and southern Taiwan, as well as the HengchunPeninsula are expected to see scattered showers today as the island starts to become influenced by the typhoon's periphery, reported Liberty Times. However, most of Taiwan will see clear skies and balmy weather, with highs in northern Taiwan reaching 35 to 36 degrees Celsius and the rest of the country reaching 33 to 35 degrees.

Today, much of Taiwan will high to very high levels of UV radiation, with high levels reported in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, HsinchuCounty and Lienchiang County. Meanwhile, many of the rest of teh counties and cities in the country will see very high levels of UV radiation, therefore, the public is urged to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated to avoid heat stroke.


(JTWCsatellite image)

Projections


CWB map of potential track.


CWB map of areas most likely to be impacted by Super Typhoon Maria.


Map from Tropical Storm Risk (TSR).


Forecasted track of Super Typhoon Maria from Joint typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).