Tropical Storm Forms Off Taiwan Coast, May Reach Southern China Tomorrow

A tropical storm formed off the coast of Taiwan, prompting weather warnings, and is forecast to get stronger before making landfall tomorrow in southern China, the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Center said.

Tropical Storm 11W, the 11th of the northwest Pacific season, was 178 kilometers (111 miles) south-southwest of the city of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan at 8 a.m. local time today, the center said. The storm had sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and was moving northeast at 11 kph.

The storm’s winds are forecast to strengthen to 74 kph by 8 p.m. today and 11W is expected to cross the coast near the southern Chinese city of Xiamen at about 2 p.m. local time tomorrow, according to the typhoon center’s tracking chart.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau issued today warnings for possible heavy rains and strong winds, after the storm changed track and moved closer to the southern part of the island.

The storm may bring more heavy rain to China, where thousands of people have died in flooding and mudslides this year. Authorities urged ships and fishing boats to return to port and warned torrential rains and strong winds may affect the coast later today, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

Two people are missing after an oil rig operated by China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. off the eastern Chinese coast was damaged when Tropical Storm Malou swept past two days ago.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo at asheldrick@bloomberg.net.

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