TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Weather Administration said Monday that Typhoon Danas has weakened to a tropical storm and exited to sea around 6 a.m. near the Taoyuan-Hsinchu border, though a land warning remains in effect for areas north of Taichung.

As of 8 a.m., the storm's center was located about 60 km north-northwest of Taipei, moving north-northeast at 16 kph, per CNA. 

CWA meteorologist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said the eye of Danas made landfall in Budai Township, Chiayi County, at 11:40 p.m. Sunday. Wind gusts reached Level 16 on Dongji Island in Penghu and Qigu District in Tainan, and Level 17 in Kouhu Township, Yunlin.

The land warning area has been narrowed to New Taipei, Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City and County, Miaoli County, and Yilan County. Sea warnings remain in effect for the northern Taiwan Strait and northern and northeastern waters.

Wu expects the land warning to be lifted after noon and the sea warning by evening.

Kaohsiung and the area from Miaoli to Yunlin are experiencing more intense rainfall, with hourly rain rates of about 50 to 60 mm. Central and southern mountain regions should stay alert for further downpours.

As of 8:30 a.m., rainfall totals reached 288 mm in Pingtung County’s Majia Township and 214.5 mm in Kaohsiung’s Xinxing District.

Wu warned of torrential rain in the mountains of Kaohsiung and Pingtung. Extremely heavy rain may also occur in Miaoli County, Taichung, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi, Chiayi County, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County, with heavy rain possible north of Hsinchu, in the east, and in Penghu County.

She added that although Danas is weakening and moving away, moisture from a southern low-pressure system could continue to bring intermittent rain to southern Taiwan and mountain areas through Friday.