TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will experience sweltering summer heat through Wednesday, meteorologist Wu Der-romg (吳德榮) warned on Monday (June 9). The weather expert cautioned residents about possible afternoon thunderstorms, particularly in mountainous regions across the island. In his widely read column for National Central University (NCU, 中央大學), one of Taiwan's premier research institutions, Wu urged vigilance as atmospheric instability could trigger sudden localized downpours or electrical storms despite the predominantly sunny conditions.
Eastern Taiwan faces increasing humidity that will likely trigger scattered showers on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Wu's analysis. More concerning is a tropical disturbance brewing in the South China Sea that could deliver intense rainfall across the island from Thursday through Saturday. Wu also mentioned another tropical system developing east of the Philippines but reassured the public that this secondary disturbance shows little sign of intensification and poses minimal immediate threat to Taiwan.
Advanced European weather models indicate Taiwan will likely return to predominantly clear skies and persistent summer heat from Sunday through Wednesday next week. Wu emphasized that while the South China Sea disturbance is projected to track northward rather than directly hitting Taiwan, it nevertheless poses an indirect threat to the island. The meteorologist explained that the system's intensity and position will determine how much moisture gets channeled toward Taiwan by the accompanying southwestern winds, potentially affecting rainfall patterns despite the disturbance's northward trajectory. ◼