TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan faces scorching temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4°F) Tuesday (Sept. 16) under clear skies, with meteorologist Wu Der-romg (吳德榮) warning residents to guard against sunburn and heatstroke. Wu reported in his column for National Central University (NCU, 中央大學) that brief afternoon showers or thunderstorms may develop in mountainous areas amid intense heat conditions.
Wu noted that moisture levels will increase daily from Sept. 17 to 20 due to peripheral circulation from a large low-pressure system. This development will raise the likelihood of rain in eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun (恆春) Peninsula, a southern Taiwan region, along with brief afternoon showers or thunderstorms in mountainous areas.
Wu further noted that European model simulations show tropical disturbance 99W is expected to pass through the northern tip of Luzon Island, traverse the sea southwest of Taiwan, and head towards Guangdong Province in southern China. The probability of it developing into a typhoon remains low at 30%, but it may still enhance rainfall potential from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20.
The weather fan page "Taiwan Typhoon Forum" (台灣颱風論壇) pointed out that 99W is moving northwest, posing a significant threat to Taiwan. The disturbance is expected to skim the eastern coast of Luzon Island on Wednesday, enter the Bashi Channel on Thursday, and reach Taiwan's southwestern waters by Friday. Wu emphasized the need for continued observation of 99W's development, as American and European weather models significantly differ in their path simulations, leaving the threat level to Taiwan uncertain. ◼