Typhoon Nanmadol predicted to affect Jeju, south coast from Sunday

SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Typhoon Nanmadol, currently moving north from waters off Japan's Okinawa, is expected to affect South Korea's southern island of Jeju and part of the country's south coast beginning this weekend, the weather agency said Thursday.

With a central atmospheric pressure of 980 hectopascals and a maximum wind speed of 29 meters per second, this year's 14th typhoon was passing over waters 1,190 kilometers east-southeast of Okinawa at 9 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KAM).

After passing through the East China Sea, the typhoon is forecast to make landfall in northern parts of Japan's Kyushu next Monday before moving out to the sea the following day.

By Sunday, Jeju Island and the coast of the southeastern Gyeongsang region are predicted to enter into the influence of Nanmadol and experience high waves and strong winds.

There is a high possibility, however, the trajectory of Nanmadol, which formed just the previous day, may change, and the level of impact the typhoon has on South Korea will depend on its future course, the weather agency said.

The volatility of Nanmadol is expected to start shrinking around Friday night when another storm, Typhoon Muifa, currently proceeding northward toward China's east shore, may weaken into a tropical depression near North Korea's Sinuiju, according to the KMA.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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