Taipei: Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the island on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Tuesday. According to Focus Taiwan, the radius of Saudel shrank to around 220 kilometers as of 8 a.m. Tuesday from 250 km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155 km per hour from 184 kph previously. As of 8 a.m., Typhoon Saudel was positioned 980 kilometers east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at a speed of 18 kph. Under the influence of a Pacific high-pressure system, the storm is moving northward, making landfall in Taiwan less likely. However, its outer bands could still bring heavy rain and strong winds, the CWA noted. Saudel is expected to get closest to Taiwan on Friday, though its impact is forecast to be felt starting Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Narra and Tropical Storm Atsani have been downgraded to tropical depressions, with little impact on Taiwan anticipated, the CWA repo rted. For Tuesday's weather, a southwesterly wind system continued to affect Taiwan, causing heavy rain due to high moisture in the air. Extremely heavy rain and heavy rain advisories have been issued for Tainan and Kaohsiung cities and Pingtung County in the south and mountainous areas in Taitung in the east. Additionally, a heavy rain advisory was also issued for several regions, including the north coast, Taichung City, and Changhua and Nantou counties in central Taiwan, as well as Yunlin and Chiayi counties and Chiayi City in the south, and Yilan, Hualien and Taitung counties, and Orchid Island and Green Island in the east. The CWA stated that the heavy rain and extremely heavy rain warnings would remain in effect until Tuesday night. An extremely heavy rain warning indicates accumulated rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters in 24 hours or 100 mm within three hours, while a heavy rain alert signifies accumulated rainfall of more than 80 mm in 24 hours or 40 mm in one hour, as per the CWA.