Typhoon Podul was nearing southern Taiwan on Tuesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Typhoon Podul was located at latitude 22.3°N and longitude 122.6°E which put the center about 100 miles (160 km) east-southeast of Taitung, Taiwan.  Podul was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 970 mb.

Typhoon Podul was intensifying as it approached southern Taiwan on Tuesday.  A circular eye with a diameter of 30 miles (48 km) was at the center of Podul’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Podul.  Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Podul increased as Podul intensified on Tuesday.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Podul’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of Typhoon Podul.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Podul is 16.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 16.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 33.2.  Typhoon Podul is similar in intensity to Hurricane Idalia when Idalia hit Florida in 2023.  Typhoon Podul is much larger than Idalia was.

Typhoon Podul will move through an environment that will be mostly favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Podul will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  An upper level ridge over eastern China will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Podul’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Typhoon Podul could continue to intensify during the next few hours.

Typhoon Podul will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is south of Japan.  The high pressure system will steer Podul toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Podul will make landfall in southeastern Taiwan in a few hours.

Typhoon Podul will bring strong gusty winds and heavy rain to Taiwan.  The heaviest rain will fall in southern Taiwan and on the eastern slopes of mountains in eastern Taiwan.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration has issued a Land Typhoon Warning for much of Taiwan.  A Sea Typhoon Warning is in effect for much of the waters surrounding Taiwan.

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration has issued an Extremely Heavy Rain Advisory for much of southern and eastern Taiwan.

Typhoon Podul could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the east coast of Taiwan.