《TAIPEI TIMES》 Brace for heavy rain as plum rain season starts: CWA

A graphic shows expected rainfall around Taiwan for this week. Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration

/ Staff writer, with CNA Heavy rain is expected to affect parts of Taiwan this week, the Central Weather Administration （CWA） said yesterday as a meteorologist said the active part of the annual plum rain season has started.

A stationary plum rain front and southwesterly winds would bring unstable weather and abundant moisture to Taiwan from today for about a week, with the heaviest rainfall forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday, the CWA said.

The agency said western and northeastern Taiwan, and mountainous areas in the east and southeast, could expect showers or thunderstorms on those two days, with localized heavy rain possible.

Other parts of Taiwan are also expected to experience brief showers or thunderstorms during that period, the CWA said.

Rainfall is forecast to ease on Thursday as the front shifts southward, although central and southern Taiwan could still see scattered showers and thunderstorms, it said.

The front is expected to move north again on Friday and Saturday, bringing another increase in moisture. Western Taiwan and mountainous areas in the eastern region could again experience heavy rain during the latter part of next week, the agency said.

The CWA defines heavy rain as accumulated rainfall of at least 80mm within 24 hours or 40mm within one hour.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Daniel Wu （吳德榮） said Taiwan is expected to experience typical plum rain from today to Tuesday next week.

There could be severe weather, including lightning, strong winds, intense downpours and potentially disaster-causing rainfall, he said.

Plum rains on Thursday last week brought the heaviest rainfall to lowland areas including Chiayi County’s Shueishang Township （水上） and Taibao City, as well as coastal Dongshi （東石） and Budai （布袋） townships, the CWA said.

Rain on Friday last week finally fell in key catchment areas, including the Zengwen Reservoir watershed and the Bajhang Creek （八掌溪） basin in Chiayi County. The Zengwen Reservoir’s storage rose to 12 percent from 10.1 percent as of 10pm on Saturday last week, providing much-needed relief to the region’s strained water supply, the Southern Region Water Resources Branch data showed.

Additional reporting by Hunag Yi-ching and Wu Chun-feng

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES