A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm yesterday morning and is likely to bring rain to northern and eastern Taiwan during the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend, the Central Weather Bureau said.
However, the bureau said it is not likely to issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Muifa, as it is expected to turn north when it reaches Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
Muifa was centered 1,290km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) as of 2pm, bureau data showed.
Photo: CNA
The storm had a radius of 100km and was moving northwest at 14kph, packing sustained winds of 65kph, the bureau said.
Its center is expected to be 1,010km southeast of Oluanpi by 2pm today, the bureau said, adding that sea vessels operating east of the Philippines should closely monitor the storm’s development.
The storm’s projected path moved slightly closer to Taiwan compared with Wednesday’s projection, the bureau said.
Muifa could be upgraded to a typhoon on Sunday, it said.
It is expected to move north, closer to the Yellow Sea, by Monday next week, the bureau added.
The storm’s circulation would begin affecting Taiwan’s weather tomorrow night, bringing rain to northern and eastern regions, it said, adding that afternoon thundershowers are forecast for central and southern Taiwan.
Muifa is expected to come closest to Taiwan on Sunday and Monday, when cloudy skies with occasional showers are forecast for northern and eastern regions all day, the bureau said.
Daytime temperatures during the long weekend are expected to range from 33°C to 35°C, said Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), an adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University.
Coastal and mountainous areas in the north are expected to see scattered showers on Sunday, Wu said.
The storm’s influence would last until Tuesday next week, when it is expected to move away from Taiwan, the bureau said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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