The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today said that a tropical depression had formed over the South China Sea and could strengthen into a tropical storm within 24 hours, but it is not expected to directly affect Taiwan.
The weather agency said the system is likely to become the first tropical storm of the year in the Western North Pacific, and would be named Wutip.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The agency forecast that the system is to move toward China's Hainan Island and Guangdong Province, with no direct impact on Taiwan.
However, its outer rain bands may affect the nation from Thursday to Saturday, bringing localized heavy rain.
According to CWA data, as of 8am, the center of the tropical depression was about 940km southwest of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan southernmost point, moving westward at a speed of 7kph.
Its maximum sustained winds near the center were 54kph, with gusts reaching 82.8kph.
The CWA said that from Thursday to Saturday, Taiwan could be affected by the outer cloud bands of the tropical system, with heavy rain possible in southern and southeastern areas, as well as in mountainous regions on Thursday and Friday.
The agency forecast that central and southern areas could experience scattered showers or thunderstorms on Saturday, while eastern and southeastern areas may see localized brief showers or thunderstorms.
Other places would be mostly cloudy with scattered afternoon thunderstorms, the CWA said.
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