Typhoon Krathon was barreling toward Taiwan’s populous southwest Wednesday with powerful winds and heavy rain, forcing authorities to ground some domestic flights and close schools and offices.

Krathon was forecast to make landfall early today, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. Forecasters said the storm’s maximum sustained wind speeds dropped by about 20 mph throughout the day ending up at 104 mph, equivalent to those of a Category 2 hurricane.

The storm, which was over open water Wednesday, is expected to make landfall near the port city of Kaohsiung on the southwestern coast, Taiwan’s third-biggest city, the local government said.

The city’s mayor, Chen Chi-mai, warned of flooding and landslide risks, adding that the storm could bring waves of up to 20 feet to the city, home to about 2.7 million people.

— The New York Times