A tropical depression is expected to make landfall in Hualien County at about 8pm today, bringing rain to areas across Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
As of 2pm, the storm was located about 80km east-southeast of Taitung County and moving north-northwest at a speed of 30kph, according to the CWA Web site.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The system is forecast to either exit Taiwan via the north or move into the Taiwan Strait early tomorrow morning.
However, it could also dissipate over the island as it slows down after making landfall, CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said.
Brief, but intense showers or thunderstorms are expected across Taiwan from this evening through early Saturday due to the combined effects of the tropical depression and southwesterly winds, Lin added.
The CWA issued a heavy rain advisory at 5:10pm for Yilan, Hualien, Taitung and Pingtung counties, with Hualien and Taitung subject to extremely heavy rain.
According to the CWA, heavy rain refers to precipitation of 80mm in 24 hours or 40mm in one hour, whereas extremely heavy rain means 200mm in 24 hours or 100mm in three hours.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely in southern Taiwan, while central and eastern regions, as well as mountainous areas in the north, may also experience heavy rain, Lin said.
Daytime highs tomorrow are forecast to range from 28°C to 31°C, with nighttime lows dipping to 25°C to 26°C.
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