typhoon fanapi

this has been a strange typhoon season here in taiwan. the season usually runs from april-october, and on average we see around 3-4 typhoons during that time. but we have yet to really have one hit this year. a couple of weeks ago there were a couple typhoons out in nearby waters, but we didn't get hit too hard. maybe we're getting a break from the terrible typhoon that hit last aug on chinese fathers day (8/8), typhoon morakot. this was the deadliest typhoon to ever hit taiwan, wiping out total villages and killing over 450 people.

but it seems like typhoon fanapi will be making a direct hit on the island this weekend. here's a clip from a local paper:

Typhoon Fanapi is picking up strength as it approaches Taiwan. The Central Weather Bureau said it could issue a sea warning as early as Friday night. Right now the typhoon has a radius of 180km. It was upgraded from a tropical storm into a typhoon on Thursday night.

At the time of broadcast, Fanapi was approaching eastern Taiwan on Friday night. The outer circle of the storm could affect northern, northeastern and eastern Taiwan starting on Saturday.

The bureau said it may issue a land warning as early as Saturday afternoon. Meteorologists say Taiwan may feel the brunt of the typhoon on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, President Ma Ying-jeou said on Friday that he has asked all related government departments to be on call as the typhoon approaches. Some 600 soldiers have also been put on 24-hour alert as of Friday in preparation for typhoon.

we are really thankful to be here in taichung (the west central part of taiwan). most every typhoon makes landfall on the east coast and we have some mountain ranges in the middle of the island that work to protect us. typically in taichung we see lots of rainfall and some wind, but not usually enough to do significant damage. but we do have friends and co-workers on the east coast, so please be lifting them up in prayer.

we'll be sure to keep you posted!