Taiwanese meteorologists have indicated that the approaching tropical storm Grape Sang and the upcoming typhoon Suliki will not be hitting Taiwan. However, the atmosphere in the next week is expected to be very unstable, with increased rainfall on the horizon.
The Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan reported that the tropical storm Grape Sang, as of 8 a.m. on the 18th, was located at 23.1 degrees north latitude and 132.4 degrees east longitude, moving northwest at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. The central pressure of the storm is 988 hPa, with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching 23 meters per second, and gusts up to 30 meters per second. The radius of strong winds extends up to 150 kilometers from the center (180 kilometers on the northwest side, 150 kilometers on the northeast side, 100 kilometers on the southwest side, and 150 kilometers on the southeast side).
Associate Professor Wu Derong from the Department of Atmospheric Science at National Central University in Taiwan shared on the program “Sanli Weather Insights” that both Grape Sang and the upcoming tropical depression in the South China Sea, anticipated to become Tropical Storm Suliki, are not likely to directly affect Taiwan. However, the presence of these systems will lead to an increase in rainfall in the region in the coming days.
Wu mentioned that according to the latest prediction models, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) indicated a chance of brief showers in northern and eastern parts of Taiwan on the 17th and 19th. In the western regions, localized showers or thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon near mountainous areas. Daytime temperatures are forecasted to range from 24 to 35 degrees Celsius in the north, 23 to 36 degrees in the central region, 24 to 36 degrees in the south, and 21 to 35 degrees in the east.
Looking ahead, the models suggest that from the 20th to the 24th, moisture will be pushed northward in southern parts of Taiwan, leading to an increasingly unstable atmosphere and more rainfall. On the 20th and 21st, daytime temperatures will remain warm with a possibility of localized showers or thunderstorms in southern Taiwan and a chance of severe thunderstorms in the western parts in the afternoon. From the 22nd to the 24th, localized showers or thunderstorms are expected in various regions, with a possibility of severe thunderstorms, warning people to be cautious of lightning, strong winds, and sudden heavy rainfall.