TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) issued severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday (Sept. 3) for multiple areas across the island, including Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Yilan County. The weather agency cautioned residents to prepare immediately for heavy rainfall, dangerous lightning strikes, and potential flooding in streams and low-lying areas. Emergency officials urged citizens to take precautionary measures as severe weather systems develop across Taiwan's densely populated regions.
The CWA released urgent thunderstorm alerts for seven Taipei City districts, including Songshan, Zhongshan, Wenshan, Xinyi, Nangang, Neihu, and Shilin, warning residents of dangerous hail risks. Weather forecasters predict that rainfall accumulation in Xinyi District, Taiwan's premier business district, could reach 20 millimeters within a short timeframe. The targeted warnings reflect the agency's growing concern about localized severe weather patterns threatening Taiwan's capital city.
Meteorologist Chao Hung (趙竑) explained that a powerful cold-core low pressure system will generate heavy afternoon thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 4). Chao added that afternoon hours could bring particularly significant thunderstorms across mountainous regions, with potentially dangerous heavy rainfall extending to plains in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung and Pingtung regions. The weather pattern represents a notable shift in Taiwan's atmospheric conditions, potentially affecting millions of residents.
The Pacific high pressure system will intensify Friday (Sept. 5), limiting dangerous afternoon thunderstorms primarily to Taiwan's mountainous regions. Southern rainfall will increase significantly Saturday (Sept. 6), raising the likelihood of intermittent showers throughout the day in eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), Taiwan's southernmost tip. A northward-moving southern cloud system will broaden rain coverage from Sunday (Sept. 7) to next Tuesday (Sept. 9), resulting in significant rainfall across mountainous areas and near-mountain plains. ◼