A tropical depression system east of the Philippines could be upgraded to a tropical storm tonight, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday, adding that the storm could approach Taiwan tomorrow and Wednesday.
The system, which formed east of Luzon Island yesterday morning, was moving west at 10kph and has the potential to become a tropical storm in the coming 36 hours, the bureau said, adding that the storm would be named Ma-on.
The storm would be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow evening to Wednesday, with its center moving into waters on the north side of Luzon Island before approaching the coast of southern China and Hong Kong, the bureau said.
Photo: Central Weather Bureau
The tropical depression system is not likely to strengthen beyond a tropical storm.
Strong convection is inclined to occur on the south side of the circulation, it said.
Chances of issuing a sea alert and a land alert for the tropical storm are small, the bureau said.
Nevertheless, the storm would still affect the weather in Taiwan, bringing showers or thundershowers to the southern, eastern and southeastern regions tomorrow and on Wednesday, the bureau said, adding that cloudy to sunny skies are forecast for the rest of the nation.
However, southwesterly winds would rise after the storm moves away from Taiwan, raising the chances of afternoon thunderstorms nationwide, the bureau said.
From Thursday to Sunday, scattered showers or thundershowers are forecast for the central and southern regions, while cloudy skies are forecast for the rest of the nation, with scattered thundershowers in the afternoon, the bureau said.
Between Wednesday and Saturday, rogue waves are likely to occur along the north, east and south coasts as well as off Penghu and Kinmen counties, it said.
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