Taipei: A tropical storm and a tropical depression near Taiwan are set to bring unstable weather conditions, with the southern and eastern regions expected to experience the heaviest rain, said independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong on Thursday. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that a tropical depression formed at 8 p.m. Wednesday and was located 440 kilometers southeast of Cape Eluanbi as of 2 a.m. Thursday.

According to Focus Taiwan, at the same time, a tropical storm was positioned 1,200 kilometers west-southwest of Cape Eluanbi. The CWA stated that the tropical storm is moving west-northwest and is anticipated to proceed north through the South China Sea, thus avoiding a direct hit on Taiwan. However, Wu highlighted that the storm will still result in significant rainfall across the region.

The tropical depression is expected to start affecting Taiwan on Thursday, leading to unstable weather conditions, particularly in the south and east, where brief showers and thundershowers are probable, according to the CWA. Taitung County is likely to experience extremely heavy rain.

Meanwhile, areas north of central Taiwan will face cloudy skies with potential brief thundershowers in the afternoon and localized heavy rain, the administration noted. Alongside the heavy rain, the CWA has issued warnings of localized strong winds over waters off northern and eastern Taiwan and around the Bashi Channel, with gusts reaching levels 8 to 10 on the Beaufort scale.

Temperature-wise, highs could peak at 31 degrees Celsius in eastern Taiwan and 35 degrees in the west, the CWA indicated. Lows across Taiwan are expected to range between 26 and 28 degrees. In Taiwan’s offshore counties, temperatures will vary from 27 to 32 degrees in Penghu, 26 to 32 degrees in Kinmen, and 26 to 28 degrees in Matsu.