Tropical Storm Krathon strengthened into a typhoon Sunday, and is on a heading to make landfall at the southern tip of Taiwan, according to Central Weather Administration forecasters.
The CWA upgraded the storm to a typhoon Sunday morning, a few hours after issuing a maritime warning for waters south and southeast of Taiwan.
At 2:30 pm, Sunday, Krathon was located 430 kilometers southeast of Taiwan’s southernmost tip, Point Eluanbi. Krathon was moving west-northwest at 9 kilometers per hour. The storm had a central air pressure of 970 hPa, and the inner storm circle was packing sustained winds of 119 kilometers per hour, with maximum gusts up to 155 kilometers per hour, and is continuing to intensify.
The approach of Typhoon Krathon coincides with a northeast monsoonal airflow, and the combination brought heavy rain to northern and eastern coastal districts Sunday. The CWA issued a heavy rain alert for the north coast, including Keelung City, and mountainous areas of New Taipei City, Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County, and Pingtung County. The rain warning remains in effect through Sunday night.
The CWA is expected to issue a land warning for storm-force winds and heavy rain affecting the Hengchun Peninsula later this evening or early Monday morning. Heavy torrential rain is forecast for the Greater Taipei area, the east coast, and Hengchun Peninsula Monday.
According to the CWA forecast, after making landfall on the Hengchun Peninsula, Krathon is expected to travel north along Taiwan’s east coast, affecting the weather until Thursday.
Watch Robert Speta’s report on Typhoon Krathon
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