The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued a sea warning for Tropical Storm Meranti Thursday, after the storm formed in waters southwest of Taiwan earlier in the morning. At 8 a.m., the storm was centered 180 kilometers west-southwest of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost tip. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and moving north-northwest at 12 kph, according to CWB data. Forecasters cautioned ships sailing in the Bashih Channel, Taiwan Strait and waters near the Pratas Islands to pay attention to the strong wind and waves caused by Meranti. Also, the peripheral circulation of the storm is expected to bring heavy rains to the southeastern, eastern and southern parts of Taiwan, the forecasters said. 