The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan.
The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the moment, along with Typhoon Yinxing and tropical storms Toraji and Manyi, the CWA said.
It would be the first time that four tropical cyclones exist simultaneously in November, it added.
Photo: Screen grab from Japanese Meteorological Agency’s Web site
Records from the meteorology agency showed that three tropical cyclones existed concurrently in January in 1968, 1991 and 1992.
The first time that four tropical cyclones existed at the same time was recorded in October 1994, although none of them affected the nation then.
Once Usagi forms, it is expected to move northwest and first approach the east coast of the Luzon Island in the Philippines, CWA forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan (張承傳) said.
Photo: Screen grab from Weather Express’ Facebook page
Should the Pacific high-pressure system weaken slowly, the tropical storm could move west toward the South China Sea, he said.
The storm could move north and affect Taiwan if the high-pressure system weakens at a faster pace, he said.
Temperatures this week could fall to 23°C, as a strong northeast monsoon was forecast to affect the nation from today to early Wednesday morning, while temperatures could be as high as 24°C to 25°C in the north and northeast regions.
Highs in central and southern Taiwan could reach about 30°C, Chang said.
As the northeast monsoon was forecast to weaken by early Wednesday morning, daytime temperatures would be up to 26°C in the north on Wednesday and climb further to 30°C on Thursday and Friday, he said.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Yinxing was forecast to move toward east of Vietnam and weaken to a tropical depression in three days, Chang said.
Manyi was northeast of Guam and was forecast to move west and dwindle to a tropical depression in the next 72 hours, he said.
Toraji was northeast of the Philippines and was expected to move southwest along the edge of the Pacific high-pressure system to near Luzon Island by tomorrow and east of the South China Sea by Wednesday, he said.
Toraji would not directly affect Taiwan, but it would increase the chances of rain tomorrow and early Wednesday, Chang said.
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