Hsinchu: Mountainous areas in Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taichung are gearing up for significant rainfall over the next 24 hours as Typhoon Bavi's outer bands impact Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) announced on Saturday. Cumulative precipitation in these regions is projected to reach between 250 to 400 millimeters starting from 2 p.m. Saturday.
According to Focus Taiwan, data from the CWA indicated that areas in Hsinchu and Miaoli were already experiencing substantial rainfall by Saturday afternoon. As of 1:30 p.m., four of the seven weather monitoring stations in Taiwan that recorded over 400 mm of precipitation in the first 13 hours of Saturday were located in Hsinchu County-specifically in Wufeng Township and Jianshi Township. Additionally, two stations in Miaoli County, located in Nanzhuang Township, reported similar levels of rainfall.
The CWA has also forecasted that mountainous regions in New Taipei, Taoyuan, Nantou County, Chiayi County, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County should expect between 200 mm to 340 mm of rain over the same 24-hour period beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday. In contrast, low-lying areas in New Taipei, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli are anticipated to receive between 150 mm to 250 mm of rain. Meanwhile, regions in Keelung, Taipei, and Taoyuan are expected to experience rainfall amounts ranging from 100 to 190 mm.
In terms of wind conditions, the CWA has issued warnings that wind speeds on the outlying Orchid Island (Lanyu), Green Island (Ludao), and in the Matsu Islands could reach 134 to 149 kilometers per hour from 6 p.m. Saturday to midnight. Additionally, areas such as Penghu County, Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Hsinchu city and county, Taoyuan, and Miaoli may experience wind speeds up to 89 km/h during the same timeframe.
The CWA predicts that Taiwan will move outside Typhoon Bavi's storm radius by late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, potentially reducing the severe weather impact on the island.