Taipei: Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) is closely monitoring a tropical disturbance located west of Guam, which may intensify into a tropical storm by Saturday, potentially bringing significant rainfall to northern and eastern Taiwan over the upcoming week.

According to Focus Taiwan, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung stated that simulation models suggest the disturbance is likely to strengthen into a tropical depression by Friday. It is anticipated to evolve into a tropical storm by Saturday, with rain expected to reach Taiwan that evening. The heaviest rainfall is predicted to occur between Sunday and Tuesday, as a result of the combined effects of the tropical system and seasonal northeasterly winds.

Huang advised residents in northeastern Taiwan, especially those in Yilan and Hualien counties, to remain vigilant for extremely heavy rainfall during this period. As of the latest update, the tropical disturbance was positioned 950 kilometers west of the U.S.-administered island and 1,900 kilometers east-southeast of Cape Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan. The system is projected to pass over Luzon in the Philippines on its way to the South China Sea.

Additionally, Huang noted that daytime temperatures in western Taiwan are expected to reach 33-35 degrees Celsius through Saturday, while temperatures in the east may climb to 31-32 degrees. These temperatures are foreseen to drop to around 25 degrees in the west and 28 degrees in the east next week. Persistent showers are likely throughout the next week, with affected areas gradually moving southward as Taiwan continues to be influenced by seasonal winds.