Taipei: Typhoon Ragasa is forecast to hit its peak strength and come closest to Taiwan from Monday afternoon through Tuesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Taiwan’s main island could be out of the storm circle by midday Tuesday, and the sea warning may be lifted Tuesday night, according to the CWA.

According to Focus Taiwan, CWA senior weather specialist Wu Wan-hua stated during a press conference that Ragasa’s storm circle had reached the Hengchun Peninsula by 11 a.m. Monday and is expected to affect Taitung County and Kaohsiung by Monday evening. Ragasa is predicted to move to Taiwan’s southern offshore areas Monday night and its southwestern offshore areas early Tuesday.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, Ragasa’s center was located about 290 kilometers south-southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan’s southernmost point. The storm was progressing west-northwest at a speed of 21 kilometers per hour, with maximum winds near the storm’s center reaching 209 kph.

Land warnings have been issued for Kaohsiung, Tai
tung County, Pingtung County, and the Hengchun Peninsula. Sea warnings are in place for the Bashi Channel, the Taiwan Strait, and waters extending as far south as Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Island, also known as Pratas Island, in the South China Sea, the CWA reported.