The latest typhoon information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on the afternoon of July 18 said that Typhoon Crising (international name Wipha) is moving northwest and is forecast to pass northernmost Luzon after making landfall.
PAGASA forecasters said the storm could enter the South China Sea and leave the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) on July 19.
PAGASA also said that Crising is expected to intensify violently as it leaves the Philippines and enters the East Sea.
The latest weather report says the center of the storm is located 195km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The storm is moving westward gradually, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 90 km/h.
The CWA issued a sea warning for Typhoon Wipha at 11:30 a.m. on July 18 warning of heavy rain in eastern Taiwan (China) over the weekend.
As of 11am, the center of the storm was about 560km southeast of Eluanbi Cape, the southernmost point of Taiwan (China), and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 23km/h.
The CWA said the storm is maintaining winds of 72 km/h and gusts of up to 101 km/h.
Taiwanese typhoon forecasters say Typhoon Wipha will move towards the sea off the northern coast of Luzon, passing through the Bashi Strait and entering the East Sea, and is expected to make its closest approach to Taiwan (China) on July 19.
CWA meteorologist Daniel Wu said that Typhoon Wipha will cross the Bashi Strait into the East Sea on July 22 and may make landfall in Guangdong, China.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Meteorological Station (China) warned that as Typhoon Wipha is approaching, local people should prepare to cope with widespread showers that could lead to flooding.
The Hong Kong Meteorological Administration (China) is expected to issue a warning signal for Typhoon No. 1 on the evening of July 18 or early morning of July 19 as Wipha is expected to enter the area 800km from the city.
Hong Kong (China) typhoon forecasters said that Typhoon Wipha will gradually strengthen and then move closer to the western coastal area of Guangdong.
Strong winds and accompanying outside showers will also gradually affect the area. There will be showers and thunderstorms from July 19 to 21," the weather forecast of the Hong Kong Meteorological Station (China) stated.
