TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 氣象署), the national meteorological agency, issued an urgent heavy rain alert Wednesday (June 4) as a stubborn stationary front unleashed severe downpours across multiple regions of the island. Officials identified offshore Lanyu (蘭嶼) and Green Island (綠島) as particularly vulnerable, while mainland areas including Taichung City, Changhua County, and Nantou County reported significant accumulations by midday.
Meteorologists warned that Lanyu, the volcanic island 40 miles off Taiwan's southeastern coast, faces the most severe threat with localized torrential downpours expected throughout the day. The weather system's influence extends across central and southern Taiwan, with the Taitung region and nearby Green Island also bracing for substantial precipitation. "Residents should exercise extreme caution," the administration advised, highlighting specific dangers including lightning strikes, powerful wind gusts, potential landslides in mountainous terrain, and flash flooding in vulnerable low-lying communities.
The weather agency reported that the unstable atmospheric conditions have already triggered scattered thunderstorms across central, southern and eastern Taiwan, with Hualien and Taitung counties experiencing intermittent downpours since dawn. Northern and northeastern regions will likely see brief showers throughout the day, while western and southeastern areas face the possibility of intense localized rainfall, especially in elevated terrain during afternoon hours. Southern communities were placed on high alert after forecasters predicted possible torrential rain in the early morning hours.
Temperature forecasts show northern Taiwan remaining relatively cool with highs between 24 to 25 degrees Celsius (75.2°F to 77°F), while central and southern regions will experience slightly warmer conditions reaching 27 to 28 degrees Celsius (80.6°F to 82.4°F). Overnight lows will drop to approximately 21 degrees Celsius (69.8°F) in northern areas and between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius (75.2°F to 78.8°F) elsewhere. The outlying islands of Penghu (澎湖), Kinmen (金門), and Matsu (馬祖) – Taiwan's territories closest to mainland China – will see intermittent showers and possible thunderstorms, with temperatures fluctuating between 19 and 27 degrees Celsius (66.2°F and 80.6°F). ◼