A prospective typhoon currently near Guam is expected to affect Taiwan over the weekend, although models are undecided on its path due to variable autumn weather patterns.
The tropical depression is expected to strengthen into the named typhoon Usagi and approach Luzon in the Philippines on Thursday and Friday, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lin Ping-yu (林秉煜) said this morning.
However, various countries’ models differ greatly about its path after then, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
Some models show the storm continuing to move westward into the South China Sea near Taiwan, while others have it turning sharply northward into the waters east of Taiwan, Lin said.
The storm’s outer bands are expected to affect Taitung and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) in the latter part of the week, although rain forecasts for the weekend are to depend largely on its path, he added.
As the northeast monsoon strengthens, areas north of Taoyuan and the east coast are to see localized rainfall with heavy rain possible in mountainous areas of the northeast, Lin said.
From tomorrow to early Wednesday, the nation is to additionally feel the effects of Typhoon Toraji’s outer edge, bringing localized heavy rain to the northern coast, mountainous areas in greater Taipei and Hualien, and Yilan, he said.
Rain is expected to ease on Wednesday and Thursday, he added.
Temperatures are to be kept down to between 22°C and 27°C in the north and Hualien due to the northeast monsoon, but rebound on Wednesday as its effects weaken, he said.
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