Weather Agency: 14 Taiwan Counties, Cities May Reach Work, Class Suspension Threshold Due to Typhoon

Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China on July 11, impacting Taiwan with intense winds and rainfall, prompting authorities to assess potential work and class suspensions.

The typhoon, which initially made landfall in China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces early on July 11, brought its most severe weather conditions to Taiwan throughout the day. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) released updated forecasts indicating that 14 counties and cities across Taiwan were expected to meet the threshold for suspending work and classes due to the storm's impact.

According to the CWA's 1 p.m. forecast, areas projected to receive significant rainfall included mountainous regions in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. This represented an increase from earlier predictions, highlighting the storm's dynamic nature.

Furthermore, the CWA predicted strong winds for coastal areas in New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City and County, Miaoli, the Hengchun Peninsula, and the islands of Lanyu, Green Island, Matsu, and Penghu for the early hours of July 12. The criteria for suspending work and classes involve average wind speeds of 7 or more, or gusts reaching 10 or more, within a four-hour window, or predicted rainfall exceeding 350 millimeters in plains and 200 millimeters in mountainous areas within 24 hours, if the conditions pose a disaster risk.

However, the final decision on whether to suspend work and classes rests with individual city and county governments. Authorities urged residents to stay informed and follow official announcements for the latest updates on the typhoon's progression and its potential impact on daily life.