The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a heavy rain advisory for much of the main island as a combination of southwesterly winds, a low-pressure system and a weather front brought unstable weather conditions.
The advisory covers all cities and counties in Taiwan proper except for Chiayi City and Changhua County, effective through this evening, the CWA said.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The CWA defines heavy rain as accumulated precipitation of at least 80mm within 24 hours or hourly rainfall exceeding 40mm.
The agency said heavy rain had already been recorded in mountainous areas of Pingtung County, Kaohsiung, New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Hsinchu County earlier this morning.
As of 10am, 74.5mm and 71.5mm of rainfall had fallen in Pingtung County's Jiadong Township (佳冬) and Kaohsiung's Renwu District (仁武) respectively since midnight, the most recorded for the 10-hour period anywhere around Taiwan, CWA data showed.
Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said moisture levels are expected to increase and atmospheric conditions are likely to remain unstable through Sunday.
During that period, afternoon thunderstorms could still develop in some areas and may be accompanied by lightning, strong winds and intense rainfall, Wu said.
Looking ahead, Wu said the fifth plum rain front of the season is forecast to linger near Taiwan from Monday to June 14, while strengthening southwesterly winds move into the region.
The combination is expected to usher in a more active phase of Taiwan's rainy season, increasing the likelihood of thunderstorms, strong winds, short-duration downpours and potentially hazardous rainfall, he said.
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