Typhoon Morakot Due to Hit Taiwan Tonight

by TyphoonHunter | August 5, 2009 at 05:38 am

6812 views | 45 Recommendations | 16 comments

*UPDATE 7th August 0100z - In Suao city, northeast Taiwan. Typhoon Morakot seems to have turned northwest and could make landfall near here tonight. Current winds are 80kts gusting to 115kts.*

Taiwan is bracing for the arrival of typhoon Morakot tonight as the storm churns towards the island with winds of over 90 miles per hour. Government offices, schools and the stock exchange are all closed today, Friday as weather conditions are forecast to detoriate rapidly.

The current forecast track takes Morakot to the northeast coast of Taiwan tonight and then into eastern China on Saturday.

Morakot comes hot on the heels of tropical storm Goni which made landfall near Macau and Hong Kong last night.

I am in Suao city in northeast Taiwan where heavy rain and strong winds are already affecting the region.

Please check back here for more updates on this developing situation. For more information please visit the following websites:

www.typhoonfury.com - Storm chaser website with pictures and video of typhoons as they make landfall around Asia.

www.cwb.gov.tw - Taiwan government weather bureau.

www.jma.go.jp - Japanese Met. Agency.

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Jordan Yerman

at 10:23 on August 5th, 2009

Good to hear from you again... stay dry!

158

at 17:24 on August 5th, 2009

good report

Taiwan Tourist (not verified)

at 02:26 on August 6th, 2009

I was planning to take a bus tomorrow morning to the coastal cliffs in the East of the island, there's a scenic road that would be worth checking out. Should I cancel my plans? I can't find enough information in the government page in english.

amc-style

at 03:11 on August 6th, 2009

(I was planning to take a bus tomorrow morning to the coastal cliffs in the East of the island, there's a scenic road that would be worth checking out. Should I cancel my plans? I can't find enough information in the government page in english.)

Taiwan authorities have issued sea and land warnings for Typhoon Morakot. You may check the news for your safety.

nagba

at 02:42 on August 6th, 2009

Well... i would postpone going there before the typhoon gets over. You know, just in case.

TyphoonHunter

at 02:43 on August 6th, 2009

"I was planning to take a bus tomorrow morning to the coastal cliffs in the East of the island, there's a scenic road that would be worth checking out. Should I cancel my plans? I can't find enough information in the government page in english."
Keep away from that area if you're going there for traveling. Tomorrow conditions along the entire East coast will be very very dangerous and I'd advise you to stay in Taipei or large city if you're in that area. If you want any more information feel free to ask here!
James.

kkk (not verified)

at 06:21 on August 6th, 2009

Pls pray for my 83 yr old mom who is transiting in Taipei now fm Spore enroute to Vancouver on Evaair. She's travelling alone. Pray all is fine. Thanks!

DAUTeacher (not verified)

at 09:59 on August 6th, 2009

We are teaching a class at CCIT in Chungli (western side of the island, northern quadrant) - the base is closed for Friday, and the cadets have been sent home to start thier summer break early. Our hotel is recommending everyone stay inside for all of Friday while the storm passes. The storm is supposed to be at its worst on Friday about 1200 to 1600.

TyphoonHunter

at 16:36 on August 6th, 2009

It will be later than that, storm due to hit later tonight somewhere between Hualien and Suao.

Taiwan Tourist (not verified)

at 18:35 on August 6th, 2009

Hualien and Suao? Exactly the area I wanted to visit... If the typhoon hits early tonight, do you think it will be over tomorrow morning?

danesller0127

at 03:31 on August 7th, 2009

UPDATE 2: FLOODS LEAVES THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS IN BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES, STATE OF CALAMITY DECLARED IN ZAMBALES

"Typhoon Kiko (international named Morakot) strengthened and slightly accelerated as it moved toward Taiwan..." (http://article.wn.com/view/2009/08/06/Kiko_intensifies_as_it_heads_for_Taipei/)

HUNDREDS OF VIHICLES STRANDED , 10 BARANGAYS DISPLACES DUE TO LANDSLIDE WITH STRONG WINDS AND FLOODINGS... A COLLAPSED DIKE BLAMED FOR THE MASSIVE FLOODINGS IN BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES, STILL A ZERO CASUALTIES, REPORTED ON THE RADIO RIGHT NOW...

trishac (not verified)

at 05:43 on August 7th, 2009

Hi there,

My mum and I would be travelling to Taiwan next week around 16th August. We booked our ticket with the travel agency. Could you please advise whether it would be safe to travel by then? Would we be asked to stay in the hotel, that would then defeat the prupose of travelling there.. Our itinearary covers Taipei (which is affected), Taoyuan, Nantau, Tainan, Kaohsiong, Taitung, Huailen and Ilan. Also, how long would a typhoon stays? Thanks!

TyphoonHunter

at 02:24 on August 9th, 2009

Trishac your trip should be unaffected by Morakot. However there is always a chance another typhoon might affect Taiwan over the next few months.

Sorry for the lack of updates, it's been a manic 48 hours. I've posted some video I shot from Hualien in Taiwan. Here's a link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTkUtUlogA

trishac (not verified)

at 06:31 on August 9th, 2009

Hi TyphoonHunter, no worries - thanks for sharing. You guys are so brave! It was scary to see that the signboard flew from one place to the other, luckily no one was around. One of our travel itineary is to go to Toroko Gorge in Hualien...I do hope that the typhoon will end by then I dont really mind the rains just not typhoon... dont think my mum cant stand it..

Thanks again, you take care!