TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's weather agency issued extreme rainfall warnings Tuesday (June 9) for mountainous areas in southern Taiwan. A stationary front and southwest monsoon are expected to bring sustained heavy rain across the island through at least June 15, raising concerns about landslides, flash floods and dangerous conditions in vulnerable communities.
The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) elevated warnings to "extremely heavy rain" status for Kaohsiung and Pingtung mountain areas, indicating rainfall could exceed 350 millimeters (13.8 inches) within 24 hours or 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) within three hours. The agency also issued "heavy rain" warnings for 10 additional areas across the island.
Areas under "heavy rain" warnings include Taoyuan, mountainous regions in Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, greater Kaohsiung, greater Pingtung, Taitung mountains, and the outlying islands of Lanyu and Green Island. Penghu faces "moderate rain" warnings, the agency said.
The weather system driving the extended rainfall event consists of a stationary front stretching from Taiwan's northeastern waters southwest to Guangdong province in China, combined with moisture-laden southwest monsoon flow. A low-pressure system at 1,002 hectopascals over Guangdong waters is moving east-northeast at 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph).
Strong wind warnings were also in effect for 11 counties and cities, including New Taipei, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taitung, Penghu and Lienchiang. The agency warned of average winds at Beaufort scale 6 — between 39 and 49 kilometers per hour (24-30 mph) — with gusts reaching Beaufort 8, or 62 to 74 kilometers per hour (39-46 mph).0
The weather administration urged residents to avoid mountain areas unless necessary, citing risks of landslides, rockfalls and rapidly rising streams. The agency also warned of lightning, strong gusts, reduced visibility and localized flooding during heavy downpours.
Maritime warnings covered extensive areas, with the agency forecasting average winds of Beaufort 6 to 7 and gusts up to Beaufort 10 in thunderstorm areas across northern Taiwan waters, the Taiwan Strait and southeastern waters. Significant wind shifts from southerly to northerly were expected through Wednesday.
The previous day's rainfall offered a preview of conditions to come. On Monday, 10-minute rainfall totals reached approximately 10 millimeters (0.4 inches), while hourly totals hit 40 to 50 millimeters (1.6-2 inches) in central and southern regions. In New Taipei's Xizhi district, hourly rainfall reached 77.5 millimeters (3.1 inches), followed by 64 millimeters (2.5 inches) in Taipei's Zhongshan district.
The agency's seven-day forecast indicated the stationary front would briefly shift south to the Bashi Channel on Wednesday before returning to Taiwan's vicinity Thursday through Sunday. Unstable weather conditions were expected to continue through at least June 18.
During this period, western Taiwan and eastern mountain areas face continued risk of short-duration intense rainfall, with potential for localized heavy rain or torrential rain through Sunday. Temperatures across Taiwan were forecast to range from 26 to 31 degrees Celsius (78.8-87.8°F), with lows of 22 to 26 degrees Celsius (71.6-78.8°F).
The weather administration noted that conditions remained highly unstable, with meso-scale convective systems capable of producing sudden heavy rain, lightning and strong gusts. The agency said it would continue to update forecasts as the situation develops. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as conditions evolve and emergency response information becomes available. ◼
