A typhoon is expected to pass through South Korea this week, likely battering the Seoul metropolitan area on its course.

Typhoon Bavi, packing wind gusts of up to 97 kilometers per hour, with an atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals at its center, was 330 kilometers northeast of Taiwan as of 3 p.m. Sunday, traveling north at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

It was forecast to reach Jeju Island at around 4 a.m. Wednesday, make landfall near Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, at around 3 a.m. Thursday and continue traveling north along the west coast, passing through Seoul and nearby regions. The weather agency expects it to gradually weaken after passing northeast of Pyongyang on Friday afternoon.

Bavi, officially the eighth typhoon of this year, is currently categorized as being relatively weak and small, but it could develop into a very strong midsized one by the time it reaches the peninsula, the meteorologists said.

The typhoon was initially predicted to travel through eastern portions of the country, but the KMA changed its course projection. There is a possibility that the highly volatile air pressure surrounding the peninsula will alter the actual typhoon course, it added.

The weather agency urged caution on further property damage and casualties in high impact areas.

Bavi will be the second typhoon to directly hit the country this season. The first, typhoon Jangmi, arrived here in early August on the heels of a deadly streak of torrential rains.

The country suffered devastating damage from its longest monsoon season on record, which lasted for 54 days starting June 24. Some 37 people died, with five others still missing. More than 30,000 cases of property damage were reported.

By Ko Jun-tae (ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com)