Thirteen cities and counties in Taiwan, from the south up to Miaoli in the north, are under a land warning for Typhoon Krathon, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). As of 1:15 p.m. (local time) Wednesday (2 October), the typhoon was located 130 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung, moving north-northeast at 8 kilometers per hour. The storm’s outer rim has already impacted areas from Taitung in the southeast to Yunlin in the west, with heavy rain and strong winds threatening regions northward to Miaoli and Hualien.
The cities and counties under warning include Nantou, Chiayi, Pingtung, Changhua, Penghu, Taichung, Tainan, Hualien, Miaoli, Yunlin, and Kaohsiung. The CWA forecasts that Typhoon Krathon is gradually weakening as it approaches Taiwan. It is expected to make landfall in southwestern Taiwan on Thursday as either a weak typhoon or tropical storm, and it could continue to weaken into a tropical depression as it moves over the island.
Despite the weakening of the storm, authorities are warning that Typhoon Krathon could bring extended periods of heavy rainfall, particularly in central and southern regions. This poses a significant risk for flooding and other storm-related damage, as the outer bands of the typhoon are expected to continue affecting areas well beyond its landfall. The CWA advises residents to remain vigilant, especially in areas prone to heavy rain and flooding.
In recent history, only one storm has similarly weakened after making landfall in Taiwan. Tropical Storm Trami in 2001 dissipated into a tropical depression but caused significant damage in Kaohsiung due to heavy rain combined with monsoon winds. The storm resulted in four deaths, widespread power outages, and millions of dollars in agricultural losses, highlighting the potential dangers even as Typhoon Krathon weakens.
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