Typhoon Bavi Approaching: Land Warning Expected Tonight – Will Offices Close? Marine and Land Alert Criteria Explained

Powerful Typhoon Bavi is steadily approaching Taiwan, and the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) assesses that a land warning could be issued as early as tonight (September 9) through early Friday morning. In response to public inquiries about the criteria for issuing typhoon alerts and the key differences between marine and land warnings, the CWB has provided a detailed explanation, emphasizing that the timing of a land warning is designed to provide the public with a crucial 18-hour 'golden window' for disaster preparedness.

Will there be a typhoon holiday? When will the warning be issued?

As Typhoon Bavi draws closer to Taiwan, the public's primary concerns are 'When will the typhoon warning be issued?' and 'Will there be a typhoon holiday?' In response to these widespread questions, the CWB's official social media page 'Bao Tianqi - Central Weather Bureau' posted an explanation yesterday, stressing that the core purpose of a typhoon warning is to 'remind the public to prepare in advance.' Therefore, the issuance of a warning does not mean that violent winds and rain will immediately arrive.

The CWB further explained that to allow the public sufficient time to stack sandbags and secure doors and windows, warnings are typically issued while the typhoon is still at a distance. At this stage, the weather across Taiwan may not yet be affected by the outer circulation and could even be clear and sunny. This 'early warning' mechanism is designed to ensure that disaster prevention measures can be deployed before the onset of strong winds and rain.

Marine Typhoon Warning Criteria

Timing of issuance: A marine warning is issued when the forecast indicates that the typhoon's radius of 7-level gale-force winds (winds of 14 m/s or more) will approach within 100 kilometers of Taiwan's main island or its outlying islands, such as Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, within 24 hours.

Purpose: After the warning is issued, the CWB updates the typhoon's latest status every three hours. This alert primarily provides a 24-hour 'golden time' for ships engaged in maritime operations—such as fishing boats, large cruise ships, and commercial vessels—to return to port early, secure their moorings, and prepare for high winds and waves.

Land Typhoon Warning Criteria

Timing of issuance: A land warning, or a combined marine and land warning, is issued immediately when it is predicted that the typhoon's 7-level gale-force wind zone will reach the land areas of Taiwan's main island or the Pengjinma region within 18 hours.

Purpose: Once a land warning is in effect, in addition to the regular three-hourly meteorological updates, the CWB will track and report the typhoon's real-time position every hour. This is intended to provide the public across Taiwan with an 18-hour disaster preparedness period, allowing ample time to clear balcony debris, secure outdoor signs that could fall, clean drainage ditches, and minimize potential damage.

According to the CWB, based on Typhoon Bavi's projected track and speed, a marine warning is expected to be issued today, with the land warning window falling between tonight and the early morning of tomorrow (September 10). However, the CWB emphasized that the exact timing will depend on the typhoon's actual observed path and speed. Furthermore, because the gale-force wind zone will affect different areas at different times, the timing for each county and city to be included in the land warning zone will vary.

The CWB has urged all residents across Taiwan to take advantage of this 'golden time'—while the outer circulation has not yet impacted the weather and conditions remain relatively stable—to proactively carry out all necessary typhoon preparedness measures.