A tropical depression located northeast of the Philippines strengthened into a tropical storm at about 8am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
The CWA said the storm, named Francisco, is heading toward waters south of Okinawa, Japan.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
As of 8am, the eye of the storm was 980km east of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost point of Taiwan, moving north-northwest at 20kph.
The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 65kph and gusts of 90kph, the CWA said.
The tropical storm is currently relatively small, but needs to be monitored to see how it develops before deciding on whether to issue a sea warning, the agency said.
The CWA said the storm is expected to get closest to Taiwan tomorrow and Friday, and could bring heavier rain to the northern and eastern parts of the country.
Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said Francisco would move over waters east of Taiwan before veering north of Taiwan and described it as having a loose structure and not being very strong.
Meanwhile, scorching heat is expected to continue today, the CWA said.
It has issued a yellow heat advisory for Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in the north and Tainan in the south, indicating daily maximum temperatures that could reach or exceed 36°C.
The warnings were to remain in effect at least into late this afternoon, the CWA said.
Daytime temperatures would largely range between 31°C and 35°C around Taiwan as cloudy to sunny skies prevail.
Localized brief showers or even thundershowers are possible in mountainous areas, as well as low-lying areas in Chiayi County and regions south of the county in the afternoon, the CWA said.
The air quality across most of Taiwan is fair to good today, the Ministry of Environment said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
RSS