Taipei: A tropical depression over waters east of Guam could be upgraded into a tropical storm later Wednesday, but it remains too early to tell if it will affect Taiwan because of its uncertain path, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).
According to Focus Taiwan, as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the tropical depression was located 3,870 kilometers east-southeast of Cape Eluanpi, Taiwan's southernmost point, and moving in a northwest direction at 17 kilometers per hour, based on CWA data. The CWA forecast that the weather system will move to around 3,540 km east-southeast of Cape Eluanpi at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Though the weather system is expected to head for Japan, the weather agency said it will continue to monitor the storm's movement to determine whether it will eventually affect Taiwan's weather. Taiwan is currently in a typical summer weather pattern, prompting the CWA to issue heat advisories for parts of seven cities and counties on Wednesday.
An "orange" heat alert was issued for Nantou County in central Taiwan and Yunlin and Pingtung counties and Chiayi and Tainan cities in the south, warning that temperatures in those areas could reach 36 degrees Celsius or higher for three consecutive days. Yellow heat alerts were issued for Changhua County in central Taiwan and Chiayi County in the south, indicating temperature highs of 36 degrees are possible for a single day.
Elsewhere, daytime temperatures were expected to hit 32-35 degrees on Wednesday, the CWA said. Despite generally partly sunny skies around Taiwan, the weather remained affected by a low-pressure system, which is expected to bring some moisture, the CWA said.
It forecast brief showers and even thundershowers for parts of northern Taiwan and Yilan and Hualien counties in the east on Wednesday. The CWA said heavier precipitation is expected for Keelung City, Taiwan's northern coast, mountainous regions in the Greater Taipei area, and part of Yilan County.
The CWA also warned that the low pressure system will result in strong winds in the Hengchun Peninsula, Green Island, Orchid Island and outlying Matsu islands, forecasting an average wind speed of 41-51 kph (Beaufort force 6) with gusts of 63-75 kph (force 8).