TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), the island's meteorological authority, announced Saturday (Aug. 23). that Tropical Depression TD16 has intensified into a typhoon, marking the 13th typhoon of the year. The storm system, located west of Luzon Island in the Philippines, is expected to track toward Hainan Island, Vietnam, and Laos. Weather officials confirmed the tropical system's strengthening as it moves through the South China Sea region.
Currently classified as a mild typhoon, its center was positioned at 2 a.m. at 17.1 degrees north latitude and 118.3 degrees east longitude, moving westward at 22 kph (13.7 mph). The typhoon's central pressure measures 1,002 hPa, with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching 15 meters per second (33.6 mph) and gusts peaking at 23 meters per second (51.4 mph). Meteorological data indicates the storm maintains moderate intensity as it continues its westward trajectory across regional waters.
The CWA stated that the typhoon will not directly affect Taiwan but warned of increased atmospheric moisture from Sunday (Aug. 25) due to an upper-level cold core, which could trigger afternoon thunderstorms across the island. The forecast predicts sporadic showers for Hualien and Taitung counties on the eastern coast, as well as the Hengchun (恆春) Peninsula in the south. Meteorologists also anticipate potential localized afternoon thunderstorms in western and northeastern mountain areas. ◼
