Two tropical storms, Chataan and Rammasun, are in a good position to bring relief from Taiwan's lingering drought.
The two storms have formed at sea between Guam and the Philippines and could hit Taiwan this month, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday.
The CWB said Chataan was located about 2,000km away from Taiwan yesterday afternoon, when it was moving west-northwest at a pace of 5kph. Rammasun was 4,000km from Taiwan yesterday, moving northwest at a speed of 11kph. Both have been getting stronger and were moving on a course that would take them over Taiwan.
But the slow movement of the two storms will postpone their possible impact on Taiwan, with the outer edge of the storms not expected to reach Taiwan until after July 3.
Hsiao said it is as yet not certain whether the two storms will hit Taiwan directly, but they are sure to bring heavy precipitation to northern Taiwan.
The forecaster said brief afternoon thundershowers were expected in northern and northeastern Taiwan and mountainous areas yesterday, with temperatures reaching about 350C.
In related news, a Taipei water-resources official said the torrential shower yesterday afternoon had added 7.75mm to the Feitsui Reservoir's water level by 8pm yesterday, when the reservoir's water level was standing at 119.29m.
The Feitsui Reservoir is the main water source for the Taipei area.
The Cabinet warned last week that tougher water restrictions may be in store for Taoyuan County and parts of Taipei County if more rain doesn't come soon.
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