《TAIPEI TIMES》 Taiwan braces for heaviest rainfall of the week

Scooter riders navigate a street in Taipei in heavy rain yesterday. Photo: CNA

By Chung Li-hua, Liao Chia-ning and Esme Yeh / Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNA

Taiwan could experience its heaviest rainfall of the week today and tomorrow as a weather front and seasonal southeasterly winds continue to affect the island, according to the Central Weather Administration （CWA）.

Short bursts of heavy rain are expected across the island, with thunderstorms possible in western Taiwan and Yilan County in the northeast, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung （黃恩鴻） said.

Mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan may see extremely heavy rainfall, defined as 200 millimeters or more within 24 hours.

The CWA has also issued a torrential rain advisory for parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, which covers rainfall of 350 mm or more in 24 hours, or over 200 mm in just three hours. The advisory remains in effect until tonight.

In response, the Kaohsiung City Government announced last night the cancellation of work and school today in Namasiya （那瑪夏）, Taoyuan （桃源）, Jiasian （甲仙）, Liouguei （六龜）, and Maolin （茂林） districts.

Chiayi County has also closed schools and offices in Meishan （梅山）, Jhuci （竹崎）, Fanlu （番路）, Dapu （大埔）, and Alishan （阿里山） townships.

Pingtung County announced similar closures in Wutai （霧台）, Sandimen （三地門）, Majia （瑪家）, Laiyi （來義）, Taiwu （泰武）, Chunrih （春日）, Shihzih （獅子）, and Mudan （牡丹） townships.

The Executive Yuan said last night it has instructed central authorities to maintain close communication with local governments to monitor rainfall, assess potential risks, and strengthen preparedness measures for early disaster mitigation in high-risk areas.

The CWA forecasts that the frontal system will move south toward the Bashi Channel on Thursday, easing rainfall in northern Taiwan. However, brief showers or thunderstorms are still expected in central and southern Taiwan. The agency expects wet weather to persist across Taiwan from Friday through June 15, before more stable conditions return to the island’s northern and eastern regions.

Meanwhile, CWA data show that most of the rainfall has benefited reservoir catchments, helping to ease drought conditions in southern Taiwan. Up to 46.1 million tonnes of rainwater are expected to flow into southern reservoirs.

The combined storage rate of the Zengwen （曾文水庫） and Wushantou （烏山頭水庫） reservoirs has risen by 2.8 percentage points to 13 percent, while Nanhua Reservoir （南化水庫） increased by 7.9 points to 28.8 percent. Across Taiwan, reservoirs are expected to receive 159.2 million tonnes of water from Thursday last week through yesterday.

Shihmen Reservoir （石門水庫） is expected to receive the most inflow at 34.1 million tonnes, followed by the Zengwen-Wushantou system at 22.7 million tonnes. Both Wushantou and Sun Moon Lake reservoirs are projected to see inflows of 19 million tonnes each. By region, northern Taiwan reservoirs are expected to receive a total of 66.5 million tonnes, while central and southern Taiwan will receive 47.6 million tonnes and 46.1 million tonnes, respectively.

Meanwhile, data from the CWA showed that most of the recent rainfall fell within reservoir catchment areas, providing much-needed relief to drought-stricken southern Taiwan. Southern reservoirs are expected to receive up to 46.1 million tonnes of inflow.

The combined storage rate of the Zengwen （曾文水庫） and Wushantou （烏山頭水庫） reservoirs has risen 2.8 percentage points to 13 percent, while Nanhua Reservoir （南化水庫） saw its storage level increase 7.9 percentage points to 28.8 percent. Nationwide, reservoirs are estimated to have received 159.2 million tonnes of water between last Thursday and yesterday. Shihmen Reservoir （石門水庫） is expected to record the largest inflow at 34.1 million tonnes, followed by the Zengwen-Wushantou system with 22.7 million tonnes. Wushantou and Sun Moon Lake reservoirs are each projected to receive about 19 million tonnes.

By region, reservoirs in northern Taiwan are expected to receive a combined 66.5 million tonnes of inflow, compared with 47.6 million tonnes in central Taiwan and 46.1 million tonnes in the south.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES

A graphic shows yesterday’s rainfall and the corresponding reservoir catchment areas. The blue hatched areas indicated reservoir catchment areas. Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration