TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) warned Monday (July 28) of persistent heavy rainfall threatening central and southern Taiwan until Sunday (Aug. 3), urging residents to remain vigilant about severe weather conditions including lightning, strong winds, and sudden downpours. The weather expert noted that Taiwan's western regions would experience scattered showers and thunderstorms due to intensifying monsoon circulation patterns. The extended forecast signals potentially dangerous conditions across multiple counties for nearly a week.
Taiwan's weather agency, the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), issued a mountain heavy rain alert Monday morning for Tainan, Chiayi, and Pingtung counties. Lioujiao Township (六腳鄉) in Chiayi County recorded Taiwan's highest rainfall at 343.5 millimeters (13.5 inches). The weather agency's website showed that all top 10 areas for accumulated rainfall were concentrated in the Chiayi and Yunlin regions as of 8 a.m.
Wu noted that the latest meteorological models indicate the southwest monsoon would enter Taiwan from Tuesday through Sunday, bringing rainfall patterns likely to cause disasters across central and southern regions. Tropical Storm CO-MAY has revived within the monsoon circulation and is heading toward China's Zhejiang Province (浙江) without threatening Taiwan. Typhoon Krosa remains positioned south of Japan, posing no immediate threat to Taiwan's territory.
The Central Weather Administration advised residents to avoid areas prone to flash floods and refrain from river tracing or fishing activities in mountainous regions of Tainan, Chiayi, and Pingtung counties. Officials encouraged residents to monitor weather developments closely and implement necessary safety precautions during the approaching week of heavy rainfall. The warnings underscore the serious nature of the meteorological threat facing Taiwan's central and southern regions. ◼