TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) said on Wednesday (Aug. 7) that a tropical depression could develop into Tropical Storm Maria by tonight, marking the fifth typhoon of the year. The storm was at 1,980 kilometers east of Taipei at 2 a.m. with a central pressure of 1,000 hPa and maximum winds of 15 meters per second.
Meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) explained that the tropical depression lies on the eastern side of a large monsoon circulation. According to the latest CWA forecast, the storm will move north-northeastward, passing east of Japan and posing no threat to Taiwan. Wu emphasized that the large monsoon circulation pattern remains stable, and there is a possibility of other disturbances developing within it.
The CWA also noted that Taiwan will experience increased moisture levels on Wednesday, leading to occasional brief showers in the northeast and north of Taoyuan. The central and southern regions will see scattered rain from early morning to late morning.
Afternoon thunderstorms are expected to intensify, bringing rain to the western and eastern mountainous areas. Central and northern regions, along with eastern mountainous areas, could experience localized heavy rain, while the northern mountainous areas might face short-duration heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong gusts.
