TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau (CWB) at 11:30 a.m. this morning (July 17) has issued a land warning for Tropical Storm Danas, while a second tropical storm is in the works.
As of 8 a.m., the CWB said that the tropical storm had a radius of 150 kilometers and was located 470 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southernmost tip of Eluanbi, and moving north-northwest at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour (kph). It was packing maximum sustained winds of 64 kph with gusts of up to 90 kph, the equivalent to level 10 on the Beaufort scale.
According to the CWB, Danas is currently moving northwest toward the southeast coast of Eluanbi. The storm's circle is close to the Bashi Channel, and will soon pose a threat to Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, and Pingtung.
CWB map of Danas' projected path.
The land warning is in effect for Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, and Pingtung, where residents should beware of strong winds and heavy rains. A sea warning, which was issued at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday (July 16) is in effect for the waters off of southeastern Taiwan, including Orchid Island, Green Island, and the southern Taiwan Strait, where ship captains should take extra precautions while operating and navigating their vessels.
CWB forecaster Chen I-hsiu (陳伊秀) said that because the Pacific high-pressure system retreated eastward faster than expected, Danas' track is continuing to be revised eastward and is currently moving northwest. The CWB predicts that the center of Danas could make landfall in Yilan, but if the high-pressure system continues to retreat eastward, the likelihood that it will make landfall in Taiwan would be reduced.
The CWB predicts that showers are likely across northeastern Taiwan today. Rain is also likely in Hualien and Taitung, while high temperatures in western Taiwan will soar above 36 degrees Celsius, according to the CWB.
JTWC map of Danas' projected path.
Of particular note is that when Danas passed through Luzon on Tuesday (July 16), it was not broken up over land and instead integrated a low-pressure system into a low-pressure belt in the South China Sea. The CWB predicts that the low-pressure system could develop into a tropical depression or the sixth tropical storm of the year, Nari, and move north towards Taiwan creating a double tropical storm situation.
Danas will likely come closest to Taiwan on Thursday (July 18) and Friday (July 19), but the structure may have been weakened after colliding with Luzon. Today, Taiwan will see intermittent rain in the eastern half of the country.
Thursday, showers are likely in northern, eastern, and southern Taiwan, including heavy downpours. Miaoli and Chiayi counties will see a mixture of sun and rain, with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon.
CWB map of Danas' projected location on Thursday (July 18).
The weather on Friday will depend on the disposition of a low-pressure system to the west of the Philippines. The CWB predicts that rain will be likely on Friday, especially in southern and central Taiwan.
On Saturday (July 20), a low-pressure system to the west of the Philippines will likely bring local heavy rains to southern Taiwan. The rains are expected to gradually diminish from Sunday (July 21) through Tues (July 23).
CWB map showing wind radii probability.