Wu Der-rong: Heavy Rainfall Expected Through June 27, Conditions to Ease Starting June 29

Central News Agency, Taipei, June 26 – The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has warned that Kaohsiung and Pingtung are facing risks of torrential rain, while Hsinchu County, Tainan, the Hengchun Peninsula, and mountainous areas of New Taipei City are under alerts for heavy rainfall. Meteorologist Wu Der-rong advised the public to exercise caution regarding disaster-prone weather through tomorrow, noting that while precipitation will persist on June 28, the rainfall patterns will shift to localized afternoon showers by June 29 and 30.

According to the CWA, the approach of a weather front combined with the influence of Typhoon Mekkhala has created conditions conducive to short-duration heavy rainfall. Currently, Pingtung and Kaohsiung are experiencing localized torrential rain, while other regions including Hsinchu, Tainan, and mountainous New Taipei are facing significant rainfall totals. Other major cities and counties across northern and central Taiwan are also under rain advisories.

Data from the CWA indicates that as of 8:00 AM today, Pingtung County recorded the highest cumulative rainfall, with 332mm in Wantan Township. Over the 32-hour period ending this morning, Zhutian Township in Pingtung saw a cumulative total of 875.5mm.

Wu Der-rong, an adjunct associate professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Central University, noted that the latest ECMWF models suggest continued instability through tomorrow. He cautioned that the public should remain alert for severe weather, including lightning, strong winds, and flash flooding. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 23-32°C range depending on the region.

As the weather front shifts northward, temperatures are expected to rise starting June 28. By July 1, most of the island will see sunny to cloudy conditions, with occasional afternoon showers limited to mountainous regions. Regarding the tropical cyclones, Typhoon Mekkhala is moving toward the sea near the Ryukyu Islands and is expected to accelerate away from Taiwan, while Typhoon Higos remains far from the island.