On Wednesday, typhoon Saola started to pass close to Taiwan's southernmost point, bringing heavy rain and winds that caused some travel delays, though it is not anticipated to make a direct touchdown.
Taiwan has issued land and sea warnings for the storm, and flights and ferry services to a number of offshore islands as well as the city of Taitung in the southeast have been canceled.
In certain townships in the remote southern county of Pingtung, where school and work were canceled on Wednesday, the strongest rain is expected to fall, as well as up Taiwan's east coast.
According to the Tropical Storm Risk website, the typhoon will move toward southern China's Guangdong province and Hong Kong after crossing the Bashi Channel, which divides Taiwan from the Philippines.
As gale-force winds and gusts sweep across the South China Sea, China has already taken action by ordering fishing vessels to return to ports along the southeast coast.
