TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's weather agency lifted its land warning for Typhoon Ragasa Tuesday (Sept. 23) morning at 8:30 a.m., though officials warned eastern regions to brace for continued heavy rainfall as the storm tracked toward mainland China. The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署), Taiwan's meteorological authority, monitored the typhoon after it skirted the island's eastern coast overnight. Residents in mountainous areas remained on alert for potential flooding and landslides.
Meteorologist Wu Der-romg (吳德榮) warned Typhoon Ragasa would pass near Pratas Island (東沙島) Tuesday, triggering heavy rainfall across eastern Taiwan and southern regions including Kaohsiung and Pingtung. Wu urged residents in mountainous and coastal areas to maintain vigilance as dangerous wind conditions persisted despite the lifted land warning. The storm's proximity to Taiwan's outlying territories in the South China Sea raised ongoing concerns about continued weather hazards affecting the island.
Wu projected the typhoon would enter Guangdong province, China, waters Wednesday (Sept. 24), potentially delivering heavy rainfall to mountainous regions of Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung counties in Taiwan's east and south. Weather conditions should improve beginning Thursday (Sept. 25), with sunny skies returning across the island nation. The meteorologist forecast hot, clear weather from Friday through Monday (Sept. 26-29), though isolated afternoon thunderstorms may develop in mountainous terrain as typical seasonal patterns resume.
The Central Weather Administration's latest projections show Typhoon Ragasa making landfall between the Pearl River Mouth (珠江口) and Leizhou Peninsula (雷州半島) Wednesday afternoon, China time, threatening major population centers. Travelers planning trips to Hong Kong, Macau, and China's Guangxi and Guangdong provinces should monitor rapidly changing conditions as the storm approaches these densely populated territories. Separately, Typhoon Neoguri (浣熊) poses no immediate threat to Taiwan, remaining far from the island according to international weather forecasting models and satellite tracking systems. ◼
