TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan braces for intensifying weather conditions as meteorologist Wu Der-romg (吳德榮) announced Wednesday (Sept. 17) that tropical depression TD20 will strengthen into Typhoon Mitag by Thursday (Sept. 18). The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), Taiwan's national weather service, warned of increased rainfall probability across southern and eastern regions as the storm system approaches Thursday and Friday (Sept. 19).
Weather forecasting models indicate deteriorating conditions ahead as Wu Der-romg emphasized that the latest European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) predicts increased moisture accumulation around the expansive low-pressure system Saturday (Sept. 20). The atmospheric changes will generate localized precipitation across eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), Taiwan's southernmost tip. The CWA simultaneously issued warnings for unstable weather patterns and potential short-duration heavy rainfall throughout Taiwan from Thursday through Saturday.
Tracking data reveals the storm's projected trajectory as the CWA's latest potential path forecast map shows TD20 will graze northern Luzon Island (呂宋島), the Philippines' largest island, Wednesday before advancing into waters southwest of Taiwan Thursday. Meteorological analysis identifies a separate tropical disturbance east of the Philippines carrying a 90% probability of typhoon development. European model simulations project this disturbance will penetrate the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽), the waterway separating Taiwan from the Philippines, by 8 p.m. September 22. ◼