TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A tropical depression near Guam could develop into Tropical Storm Mekkhala as soon as Saturday and move closer to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration said Friday.
CNA reported that the tropical depression formed near Guam at 8 a.m. Friday. Weather forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said it could become the seventh tropical storm of the northwest Pacific typhoon season on Saturday and strengthen into a typhoon by Monday.
Taiwan’s weather is expected to stay mostly stable through Wednesday as a high-pressure system over the Pacific strengthens, Liu said. Some mountain areas may see brief showers, but most areas will remain hot and dry.
Highs in western Taiwan will reach 33 to 35 C, with some places possibly hitting 36 C. Eastern Taiwan will see highs of about 33 to 34 C, while Taitung may also reach 36 C because of hot, dry winds.
Liu said the tropical system is forecast to move closer to Taiwan on Thursday and Friday. Its outer clouds could bring brief showers or thunderstorms to southern Taiwan, while other areas may see afternoon thunderstorms.
The storm’s path remains uncertain because it will depend on the strength of the high-pressure system over the Pacific, Liu said. Current forecasts show it may move toward waters east of the Philippines before turning north toward waters south of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
Liu said the storm could come closer to Taiwan if it turns north farther west than expected. He said people should follow the latest forecasts because the track may still change.
The system is expected to reach waters east of the Philippines on Tuesday. Large swells may begin affecting waters near Taiwan that day, especially along the north coast near Keelung, eastern Taiwan, and the Hengchun Peninsula.
