The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued a sea alert at 11:30 a.m. today for approaching Tropical Storm Trami. Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo was at the Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) in the afternoon to learn the storm's latest development and inspect government preparations.
After hearing the CEOC's briefing, Mao said agencies should be on full alert at this stage and strengthen their typhoon response measures. Meteorological information predicted that Trami could bring significant rainfall of up to 1,000 millimeters in northern mountainous areas and 1,100 millimeters in the central mountains. The vice premier directed the agencies to focus on protecting northern and northeastern locations of Taiwan, such as New Taipei City as well as Yilan, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties, which could receive the heaviest precipitation.
CWB data showed that the tropical storm is currently centered over the sea somewhere east-southeast of Taipei and moving in a northwest to west-northwest direction. Ships operating to the island's north, northeast and southeast are advised to stay on high alert.
According to the CEOC, this particular storm is packing more rain than wind. In addition to the island's northeastern and northern areas, massive amounts of rainfall are expected for the central and southern mountainous regions. Areas already damaged last month by Typhoon Soulik should take precautions against further harm. As Trami is expected to come from the northwest right around high tide, coastal low-lying areas should watch for flooding from seawater.