TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), the island's primary meteorological agency, issued an urgent sea warning for tropical storm Wipha on Friday (July 18), forecasting substantial rainfall across eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula, the southernmost tip of the island, throughout the weekend. Meteorologists have tracked the developing storm approximately 500 kilometers south-southeast of Eluanbi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point, as it advances northwestward at 23 kilometers per hour with storm-force winds extending 100 kilometers from its center.
Weather officials observed significant convective cloud formations developing by Friday afternoon, substantially elevating precipitation risks across southern Taiwan and the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung. The unstable weather system also threatens mountainous terrain in the central counties of Nantou, Yunlin, and Chiayi. The administration's meteorological models project widespread showers and thunderstorm activity throughout eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula region during both Saturday and Sunday. Officials expressed particular concern for potentially torrential downpours in the mountainous areas of Hualien and Taitung counties where terrain effects could amplify rainfall intensity.
Residents across southern Taiwan should prepare for intermittent showers and isolated thunderstorms throughout the weekend. Taiwan's northern and central regions face the prospect of localized afternoon thunderstorm development as the tropical system influences island-wide weather patterns. Maritime conditions appear particularly hazardous along Taiwan's eastern shoreline, where oceanographers predict dangerous wave heights reaching between 4 and 5 meters. The weather administration has issued explicit warnings for coastal residents and visitors to carefully evaluate potential dangers before participating in any recreational activities near shorelines or in mountainous areas where flash flooding remains a significant concern.
Government meteorologists have implemented strong wind advisories for the northern metropolitan areas of Keelung, New Taipei City, and Taoyuan, where residents should secure loose outdoor items and prepare for potentially dangerous conditions. The outer circulation bands of the approaching typhoon are expected to generate sustained winds exceeding level 6 on the Beaufort scale. Powerful gusts could potentially reach beyond level 8 intensity in exposed areas. Emergency management officials throughout Taiwan have emphasized the importance of public vigilance, recommending that citizens monitor official weather updates frequently and exercise appropriate precautionary measures as the tropical system continues its projected path toward the island. ◼