Podul, the 11th typhoon of this year, is expected to make landfall in the southeast coast of China's Taiwan region around midday Wednesday, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said Tuesday.
(Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Currently classified as a severe tropical storm, Podul is forecast to move northwest at a speed of around 25 kilometers per hour. It is expected to cross the region before entering the Taiwan Strait at reduced intensity.
It is predicted to make a second landfall along the coast from southern Fujian Province to eastern Guangdong Province as a severe tropical storm between Wednesday night and the wee hours of Thursday. After landfall, its intensity will gradually weaken.
The NMC issued a yellow typhoon alert on Tuesday, warning wind gusts near the center could reach up to 201 kilometers per hour. Heavy to torrential rain is expected across eastern and southern parts of Taiwan, with possible downpours in some eastern areas.
China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
