A tropical depression east of the Philippines is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday, adding that the chances of showers would be high tomorrow in eastern and southern regions as the depression passes through the Bashi Channel before entering the South China Sea.
The storm is expected to take shape this morning, the bureau said, adding that it would be named Danas if it strengthens inot a tropical storm.
The tropical depression was moving west at 25kph.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Bureau
There are two variables that could affect the movement of the system, the bureau said.
If a Pacific high-pressure system continues to weaken, the tropical depression would come closer to Taiwan, it said.
Another variable is the structure of the system, which is very loose, making it difficult to forecast a path, the bureau said.
Today, partly cloudy skies are forecast nationwide, with afternoon thundershowers forecast in certain areas.
Afternoon thundershowers in central and southern regions are likely to expand from mountainous areas to coastal areas due to the wind, the bureau said.
Between tomorrow and Sunday, the tropical depression would pass through the Bashi Channel before entering the South China Sea and move toward China’s Guangdong Province, it said.
During this time, humidity is to rise nationwide, with higher chances of showers in eastern and southern regions, the bureau said.
Chances of afternoon thundershowers are high in central and northern regions, it added.
The tropical depression is likely to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow to Thursday.
Rain in Hualien, Taitung and Pingtung countiesis is likely to last longer, with a higher chance of heavy rainfall, the bureau said.
Rogue waves are likely to occur along the east coast due to the approaching depression tomorrow and on Thursday, it said.
WeatherRisk Explore analyst Lai Chung-wei (賴忠瑋) said the storm could proceed to the south of the Taiwan Strait and coastal areas between China’s Guangdong and Fujian provinces after its circumfluence is restructured in the Philippines, or it could gradually weaken after it sweeps through the Philippines and its remaining circumfluence would move north closer to Taiwan.
NO-LIMITS PARTNERSHIP: ‘The bottom line’ is that if the US were to have a conflict with China or Russia it would likely open up a second front with the other, a US senator said Beijing and Moscow could cooperate in a conflict over Taiwan, the top US intelligence chief told the US Senate this week. “We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Thursday. US Senator Mike Rounds asked Haines about such a potential scenario. He also asked US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2