Typhoon Hongxia nears Taiwan, bringing heavy rain and strong winds

Typhoon Hongxia continues its approach toward Taiwan, with the storm expected to be at its closest point to the island from late July 24 into the early morning of July 25. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecasts that the typhoon's intensity and the radius of its gales will continue to increase.

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Typhoon Hongxia continues to move northwest. It is expected that from last night to this morning, it will be the closest time to Taiwan, about 250 to 300 kilometers offshore. It is expected that during the future movement process, the intensity and the radius of the gales will continue to increase and expand, until it enters Guangdong, China, when the intensity will significantly weaken.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated for Hualien, Taitung, and the Hengchun Peninsula, with localized downpours or torrential rain expected. Southern Taiwan will also experience localized heavy rain, and intermittent heavy showers are possible south of Hsinchu in the afternoon. Northern Taiwan may experience foehn winds due to atmospheric subsidence, with temperatures potentially rising. The CWA predicts that winds and rain will gradually ease by the afternoon of July 25.

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As of 10:30 last night, in addition to stronger gusts in mountainous areas, Taoyuan north, Yilan, Taitung, Hengchun Peninsula, Green Island, and Orchid Island have already experienced strong gusts of 8 to 9 levels, especially Hengchun and Taoyuan Guanyin District have measured strong gusts of 10 levels.

As of late July 24, the typhoon's center was located approximately 270 kilometers south-southwest of Eluanbi, moving northwest at speeds of 24 to 18 kilometers per hour. Maximum sustained winds near the center were estimated at 28 meters per second (Level 10), with instantaneous gusts reaching 35 meters per second (Level 12). The seven-gale radius extends to 150 kilometers, indicating the storm's significant size and strength.

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It is expected that from last night to tomorrow morning when the typhoon reaches the waters southwest of Taiwan, the winds on the southwest coast will gradually increase, and the northern sea area of Taiwan will also experience strong gusts of 8 to 9 levels due to terrain.

Coastal areas, including the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the seas around Dongsha Island, are under threat. Strong gusts of 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale have already been recorded in northern coastal areas, Yilan, Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, Green Island, and Orchid Island, with gusts reaching Level 10 in Hengchun and Guanyin District, Taoyuan. Southwest coastal areas will experience increasing winds as the typhoon nears, while northern seas may also see strong gusts due to topography. Waves are expected to reach heights of 3 meters or more in several sea areas.

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Last night, Taitung and Hengchun Peninsula had already observed wave heights of 2 to 4 meters, and the Eluanbi buoy also observed long waves. It is estimated that the Bashi Channel, southeastern, southwestern, northern sea areas, and Penghu may experience wave heights of more than 3 meters.