The center of the 6th typhoon of 2005, Typhoon Wipha (tropical storm grade) was located about 510 kilometers northeast of Manila, Philippines at 8 a.m. today (18th), with coordinates of 17.8°N latitude and 124.4°E longitude. The maximum wind speed near the center was 8 on the Beaufort scale (18 meters per second), and the minimum central pressure was 998 hPa. The radius of the 7th-level wind circle was 280 to 380 kilometers.

It is expected that Typhoon Wipha will move in a west-northwest direction at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour, gradually intensifying to reach typhoon or strong typhoon level (13-14 on the Beaufort scale, 38-42 meters per second). It will enter the northern part of the South China Sea in the early morning to the morning of the 19th and then gradually approach the coastal areas from central Guangdong to the eastern part of Hainan Island. 

Strong wind forecast: From 14:00 on July 18th to 14:00 on July 19th, under the combined influence of Typhoon Wipha and the southwest monsoon, most of the South China Sea, the Bashi Channel, the Taiwan Strait, the sea area east of Taiwan, the southern part of the East China Sea, the coastal areas of Fujian, and the coastal areas of Taiwan Island will experience strong winds of 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts of 8 to 9. In the northeastern part of the South China Sea, the Bashi Channel, and the Taiwan Strait, the wind force will be 8 to 9, with gusts of 10 to 11. In the sea areas near the typhoon center, the wind force will be 10 to 11, with gusts of 12 to 13.

Precipitation forecast: From 14:00 on July 18th to 14:00 on July 19th, most of Taiwan Island will experience heavy to torrential rain, and some areas may see severe downpours (100 to 240 millimeters).