TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration, Taiwan's national weather service, (CWA, 中央氣象署) issued a heavy rain advisory Monday (Sept. 15) at 4:10 p.m. for mountainous regions of Chiayi County, warning residents of potential short-duration heavy rainfall. The advisory marked the beginning of an escalating weather emergency that would expand across multiple counties throughout the afternoon. Officials urged residents to monitor conditions closely and take necessary precautions against the approaching severe weather system.
The Administration escalated its warnings at 4:22 p.m., releasing real-time thunderstorm alerts for both Chiayi County and Tainan City, effective until 5:15 p.m. The CWA cautioned residents against intense rainfall, dangerous lightning strikes, and rapidly rising river waters that could pose immediate threats. Officials specifically warned of heightened risks including landslides, falling rocks, and mudslides that could endanger lives and property across the affected regions.
The weather emergency broadened significantly at 4:47 p.m. as the CWA expanded its thunderstorm alert to include Miaoli County, Nantou County, and Taichung City, extending the warning period until 5:45 p.m. Officials urged residents across these additional counties to remain vigilant and aware of escalating severe weather risks. The expanded alert highlighted particular concerns about potential landslides and flash floods that could develop rapidly across the mountainous terrain of central Taiwan.
Kaohsiung City joined the growing list of affected areas by 4:50 p.m., coming under a thunderstorm alert that included warnings of hail in addition to heavy rainfall, effective until 5:45 p.m. The Administration specifically advised residents to prepare for the possibility of severe weather impacts from the dangerous combination of precipitation and hail. The inclusion of Taiwan's second-largest city underscored the widespread nature of the developing weather system threatening southern and central Taiwan.