TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) announced on Wednesday (July 24) that Typhoon Gaemi (凱米) is currently situated 110 kilometers southeast of Yilan (宜蘭), with a storm radius of 250 kilometers, affecting most of Taiwan.
As the typhoon intensifies, residents are concerned about a potential two-day typhoon day off.
Typhoon Gaemi is moving northwest and is expected to bring the strongest winds and rain from tonight until early tomorrow morning, possibly causing gusts up to level 15 by this evening.
The CWA updated at 4 p.m. that the 24-hour accumulated rainfall, except in Keelung City, Hsinchu City, Changhua County, Chiayi City, Penghu County, Orchid Island, and Green Island, and the Hengchun Peninsula, has reached the threshold for work and school suspension.
The wind forecast from 6 a.m. to noon tomorrow indicates that most counties, excluding Nantou County, Chiayi City, and Taitung County, will also meet the criteria for work and school suspension.
The "Regulations on Natural Disaster Work and Class Suspension Operations" (天然災害停止上班及上課作業辦法) state that if the storm radius may pass within four hours and the average wind force reaches level 7 or gusts exceed level 10, or if the 24-hour accumulated rainfall forecast reaches 200 millimeters in mountainous areas and 350 millimeters in flat areas, work and class suspensions can be issued based on weather forecasts or actual observations.
However, the decision to suspend work and classes ultimately rests with the local governments of each county and city.