Taiwan is keeping an eye on Typhoon Goni, which is approaching from the southeast. As of 5pm on Friday, it was located 320 km south southeast off the coast of Eluanbi, the southernmost tip of Taiwan.
The storm has been downgraded to a medium-size typhoon, and spent a large part of the afternoon in largely the same place. It has since picked up speed and is now moving in a north northeasterly direction.
Central Weather Bureau projections show the typhoon gradually traveling up through waters along the east coast of Taiwan.
It’s not yet clear if the weather bureau will issue a land warning for the storm. Meteorologists say that since the storm is moving quite slowly, any number of minor factors, including the topography of Taiwan, could have an impact on the direction of the typhoon, and it could be Saturday morning by the time they are able to definitively predict whether the storm will make landfall.
Regardless of whether the storm passes through Taiwan, meteorologists are urging people to take precautions, particularly on Saturday and Sunday when the typhoon is expected to be closest. Forecasters say that Orchid Island, Green Island, as well as eastern and northern Taiwan could all see strong winds, torrential rain, and large waves along the coast. They are also urging people in the central and southern parts of Taiwan to beware of unstable weather.