TAIPEI: Taiwan is bracing for another hard hit from the weather.

Typhoon Lupit is bearing down on the island and the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast that torrential downpours are likely to cause heavy flooding in northern and eastern Taiwan and some mountainous areas in the south later this week.

The CWB said people in those areas should be prepared for heavy rains starting tomorrow, resulting from the combined effects of Typhoon Lupit and a northeast monsoon.

Lupit, the 20th typhoon in the West Pacific this year, was moving slowly in a northeasterly direction under the influence of a front, but it is expected to intensify as it moves faster toward the north of the Philippine island of Luzon and the Bashi Channel, according to the CWB.

The forecaster said downpours from Lupit's periphery and an intensifying northeast monsoon are expected to start tomorrow and last until the weekend.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 10/20/2009 page2)