Taipei: A low-pressure system over the South China Sea is forecast to bring significant rainfall to Taiwan early this week, particularly affecting southern and central regions as well as Taitung County. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) announced on Sunday that the heaviest rainfall is anticipated on Monday and Tuesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the approaching low-pressure system could evolve into a tropical depression, though its potential intensification into a tropical storm remains uncertain. CWA forecaster Wang Pin-hsiang stated that Taiwan will experience unstable weather throughout the week due to the influence of a broad low-pressure belt. Southern Taiwan is likely to encounter localized heavy or extremely heavy rain at the beginning of the week, with central regions and Taitung also facing heavy rainfall over brief periods.
Forecasts indicate afternoon thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall across other areas. The CWA defines an extremely heavy rain warning as accumulated rainfall exceeding 200mm in 24 hours or 100mm within three hours, while a heavy rain alert involves over 80mm in 24 hours or 40mm in one hour.
Rainfall is predicted to decrease gradually from Wednesday through Saturday, although localized heavy rain could persist in southern Taiwan and mountainous regions on Wednesday. Elsewhere, afternoon thunderstorms are anticipated, with the possibility of isolated heavier downpours. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain around 33-34 degrees Celsius during the coming week, with hot and humid conditions persisting until the rain begins, Wang noted.
In a separate development, Wang mentioned that another tropical system east of the Philippines might strengthen into a tropical storm as it moves toward the Ryukyu Islands, though its intensity and trajectory are still uncertain. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Etau weakened into a tropical depression on Sunday afternoon, and Tropical Storm Banlang continued its northward movement. Neither storm is projected to impact Taiwan, Wang added.
This forecast follows severe afternoon thunderstorms that drenched Changhua County on Sunday, leading to flooding in several areas. Authorities were compelled to close Changhua City's Minsheng and Hsiaoyang underpasses due to severe flooding, while rapidly rising waters submerged roads in Yuanlin City, affecting parked motorcycles. The CWA had earlier issued a heavy rain advisory for Changhua and parts of western and southeastern Taiwan, citing the combined effects of the low-pressure belt and strong afternoon convective activity.