PINGTUNG (TVBS News) — Taiwan is bracing for Typhoon Usagi (天兔) as it nears the island, with expected rainfall to begin in northern Hualien (花蓮) and northern Kaohsiung (高雄) on Friday evening (Nov. 15), according to forecasts from the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署).
Usagi's slow progress, maintaining a speed of 5-8 kilometers per hour, placed its center 160 kilometers southwest of Eluanbi (鵝鑾鼻) as of 11 a.m. Friday. The CWA has projected the storm could make landfall late Saturday, potentially affecting regions between Pingtung (屏東) and Hengchun (恆春).
CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) explained that the typhoon's intensity is decreasing and may weaken into a tropical depression, whether over the ocean or on land. Nonetheless, she cautioned that sea swells will likely persist until next Tuesday.
A Malaysian cyclist recounted the typhoon's powerful winds, stating, "I was going downhill, but the wind kept pushing me back. It was strange to feel stuck while riding downhill."
In Pingtung's Manzhou Township (滿州), increasing winds and waves led to the temporary closure of beaches earlier in the day. The CWA anticipates waves reaching 4 to 6 meters and strong winds of 9 to 10 in the Hengchun Peninsula, urging residents in southern Taiwan to stay alert.