Too early to know if Monday will be declared a “typhoon holiday,” but officials say residents should batten down the hatches and prepare.
KAOHSIUNG — Typhoon Ragasa (樺加沙颱風) is closing in on Taiwan, with Kaohsiung expected to see heavy rainfall and strong winds beginning Sunday, city officials said.
The Liberty Times reports that the city government is warning residents in Maolin (茂林) and Taoyuan (桃源) districts to brace for strong winds, where gusts could reach force 8 on the Beaufort scale.
According to the Kaohsiung Weather Station, rainfall totals from Sept. 21 through Sept. 23 could reach 250 to 400 millimeters in lowland areas and 400 to 600 millimeters in mountain regions. The heaviest downpours are expected from the night of Sept. 22 into Sept. 24, when localized extreme rainfall may occur.
Officials also cautioned that coastal areas in Kaohsiung and Pingtung could see winds of force 8 to 10 between Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. Offshore, waves in southern waters are forecast to increase through Sept. 22, with wave heights exceeding 10 meters along Taiwan’s southwest coast between Sept. 22 and Sept. 24.
The city government urged the public to complete typhoon preparations, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay alert for flooding or landslides in vulnerable areas.
