Typhoon Saola forced the cancelation of Volker Rose’s invited seminar at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) in Hsing Sheng on Thursday, August 2, 2012. Most local governments across Taiwan announced late Wednesday that offices and schools will be closed Thursday in anticipation of heavy wind and rains brought by Typhoon Saola. In the afternoon Saola had sustained winds of 137 km/h and gusts of 173 km/h. It was moving slowly but growing stronger and was expected to continue to strengthen.