Heavy rain alert issued for 12 cities, counties in Taiwan

台灣12個縣市發布豪雨警報

Heavy rain alert issued for 12 cities and counties, strong wind advisory in place for all of Taiwan


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- As southwesterly air flows and the periphery of a tropical depression continue to affect Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has issued heavy rain advisories for 12 counties and cities in the country, as well as a strong wind advisory for the entire nation.

A heavy rain advisory is in effect for Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Taitung County, Kinmen County, and Penghu County. An extremely heavy rain advisory is in effect for Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Chiayi County, Chiayi City and Pingtung County.

People in the areas covered by the heavy rain advisories are warned to be vigilant for sudden downpours, lightning strikes and strong wind gusts.

Forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan (張承傳) says that the combination of the southwesterly air currents and peripheral circulation of a tropical depression will continue to bring continuous heavy rain to central and southern Taiwan and Taitung, and though the sun will break through clouds in other areas, sudden thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon.

Chang said that strong convective systems will cause sudden downpours, strong wind gusts, and lightning strikes. He also warned the public to be cautious about flash floods and to avoid acclivities in mountainous areas, streams and beaches.

Due to the sustained and significant rainfall, high temperatures in southern and southeastern Taiwan will range between 28 to 29 degrees Celsius, while the rest of the country will see the highs running between 30 to 32 degrees.

A tropical depression which had formed near Dongsha Island entered Fujian Province yesterday afternoon and weakened to a low-pressure system at 8 p.m. last night.