Taiwan is bracing for Typhoon Goni. The storm has increased its strength as it approaches the island’s Pacific coast.
As of 2:00 pm Thursday, the storm was about 540 kilometers away from the southernmost tip of the island. It was moving at a speed of 9 kilometers per hour in a west northwesterly direction towards waters off the southeastern part of the island.
The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said on Thursday that the outer rim of the typhoon will begin affecting Taiwan starting Friday. Forecasters are calling for sporadic rain in northern and eastern parts of the island.
CWB forecaster Chen Yi-liang said while the storm is likely to weaken as it moves further north, the CWB does not rule out the possibility of issuing a land warning.
"There might be some changes to the direction and the speed of the storm as it moves northward. The angle of the storm as it passes Taiwan could also change," said Chen. "The typhoon could affect Taiwan over the weekend on the 22nd and 23rd when it will be closest to the island. Coastal areas of eastern Taiwan will be closest to the storm and must be on alert," he said.
The CWB issued a sea warning for Typhoon Goni at 5:30 pm.