TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A twister was seen for half an hour in the Tamsui District of New Taipei during Typhoon Dolphin, reports said Saturday.
Residents first posted reports online, saying they had seen the tornado moving over the urban area near Taiwan’s north coast, per UDN. The Central Weather Administration later confirmed it had observed the phenomenon occurring from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
A water spout formed over the ocean before moving ashore, extending its reach to the ground, and turning into a tornado, weather experts said. At the same time, the weather service warned of thunderstorms in the area, UDN reported.
Experts said the unsettled environment in the midst of a typhoon provided the right conditions for a twister to emerge. In contrast to the US, the absence of wide plains and the relatively cramped space prevented twisters from becoming too dangerous. Tamsui reported damage to roofs, tilting electricity poles, and fallen roadside trees in three neighborhoods, per CNA.
The weather service said the typhoon was situated 410 kilometers east-northeast of Taipei Saturday at 5 p.m., and moving west-northwest at a speed of 13 kph to 17 kph.
