Intense thunderstorms across Taiwan proper on Monday night were brought by a fast-moving plum rain front, meteorologist Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) said on Tuesday.
The front’s path was classic for the season, but only took eight hours to sweep from north to south, Peng said on Facebook.
“Fortunately, it did not linger in one place too long,” he said, adding that the typical plum rain front brings more total rainfall from sporadic cloudbursts.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan Department of Water Resources via CNA
Peng also recommended reinforcing buildings for more downpours and potential flooding, as “this will definitely not be the heaviest rainfall of the year.”
At the same time, the “very strong” front brought significant rainfall to Tainan and Kaohsiung, helping to alleviate drought conditions in those areas, Peng said.
Areas in Taoyuan reported serious flooding and power outages on Monday night, with six districts seeing more than 40mm in one hour.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Bureau
Yangmei District (楊梅) had the most total rainfall, at one point seeing 60mm in an hour, the Taoyuan Department of Water Resources said.
About 20 areas were flooded with water generally less than 20cm deep, the department said, adding that they gradually drained after the rain stopped overnight.
As the temperature has dropped to 22 to 25 degrees Celsius in northern and eastern Taiwan, Peng advised dressing appropriately and bringing rain gear for lingering showers.
Taiwan is to experience summer-like weather from Wednesday to Saturday, with potential afternoon thunderstorms in mountainous areas and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Peng said.
From Sunday, the nation might be affected by the outer bands of Typhoon Mawar, bringing rainfall to the north and east, Peng said.
The storm is on track to potentially make landfall on the US territory of Guam midday on Wednesday.
Already a strong typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 144kph, Mawar is expected to strengthen further as it travels over the Philippine Sea.
Currently on a westward path, a weakening Pacific high pressure system could push the storm north, although it is difficult to estimate its precise path, Peng said.
The storm could affect Taiwan between Sunday and Tuesday, he said, advising people to pay attention to developing news and exercise caution when engaging in ocean activities.
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