Braced for typhoon.

TYPHOON Aere whipped northern Taiwan with gusty winds and heavy rain today, while China began evacuating 249,000 people from coastal areas as it braced itself for the storm that has killed at least seven people.

Schools and financial markets in Taiwan were closed for a second day as the slow-moving storm whirled just 31 miles north of Taiwan's northern tip.

Aere is expected to begin lashing China later today, packing winds of 86mph and gusts of up to 108mph, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said.