As per the Central Weather Administration (CWA), the following are the latest situational updates regarding Typhoon Saudel near Taiwan on Friday (28 August):
• As of 0800 hours (local time), Saudel had weakened into a mild typhoon and was centred near 28.0 degrees north latitude and 121.5 degrees east longitude, approximately 260 kilometres northeast of the Matsu Islands. The system was moving westward at approximately 18 kilometres per hour.
• The minimum central pressure had increased to 985 hectopascals, while maximum sustained winds near the centre had decreased to approximately 25 metres per second. Gusts were reaching approximately 33 metres per second. This marks a substantial reduction from the maximum sustained winds of 35 metres per second recorded on Thursday (27 August).
• The CWA is maintaining a Sea Typhoon Warning as Saudel’s circulation continues affecting Taiwan’s northern offshore waters and the vicinity of the Matsu Islands. No Land Typhoon Warning has been issued for Taiwan as of writing. The sea warning may be lifted later on Friday if the system continues weakening and moving away.
• Saudel is expected to continue moving westward towards eastern China and make landfall around Friday afternoon. The system is forecast to weaken further after moving inland. While the direct wind threat to Taiwan is decreasing, hazardous marine conditions and rainfall associated with southwesterly winds will continue.
• The Matsu Islands face the highest direct impact from Saudel, with strong winds, rough seas and periods of heavy rainfall expected on Friday. Sudden gusts may affect exposed coastal areas, ports, airports, elevated roads and unsecured outdoor structures.
• A Heavy Rain Advisory remains in effect due to the influence of southwesterly winds. Pingtung County may experience localised heavy rain or extremely heavy rain, while localised heavy rainfall is possible across other parts of southern Taiwan and the mountainous areas of Chiayi County.
• Short-duration intense rainfall and thunderstorms may cause localised waterlogging, rapid increases in drainage-channel and river levels, and reduced visibility. Rainfall may continue across southern Taiwan on Saturday (29 August), even as Saudel moves away.
• Subsiding air on the eastern and southern sides of Saudel is expected to produce hot conditions across northern and eastern Taiwan. A Yellow Heat Advisory has been issued for Taipei City, New Taipei City, Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County and Kinmen County, where maximum temperatures may reach 36 degrees Celsius.
• All flights operating to and from Nangan and Beigan airports on Friday have been cancelled. Mandarin Airlines has confirmed the cancellation of its Taipei Songshan-Nangan and Kaohsiung-Nangan services. Flight schedules elsewhere in Taiwan may remain subject to weather-related adjustments.
• Most passenger ferry services serving the Matsu Islands have been suspended for Friday. The Nangan-Dongyin, Nangan-Juguang, Dongju-Xiju and Nangan-Daqiu routes will remain suspended, while only services between Nangan and Beigan are scheduled to operate normally.
• Ferry services between Fuao Port in Nangan and Langqi in Fujian, as well as between Baisha Port in Beigan and Huangqi in Fujian, have been suspended throughout Friday. The evening New Taima ferry service remains subject to a separate operational assessment.
• Five passenger-shipping routes involving 21 services have been suspended across Taiwan on Friday. These include affected services on the Keelung-Matsu, Donggang-Xiaoliuqiu and Kinmen-Shijing routes, in addition to the Matsu cross-strait routes.
• Taiwan Power Company personnel and equipment remain deployed across vulnerable coastal and mountainous areas. No widespread typhoon-related power failure has been confirmed as of writing; however, localised outages remain possible due to strong gusts, fallen objects, flooding or damage to overhead distribution lines.