Taipei: Two tropical depressions near Taiwan are on track to intensify into tropical storms by Thursday, with one potentially escalating to typhoon status, possibly triggering a sea warning by Sunday evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) announced.

According to Focus Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan reported that the first system, known as TD20, was positioned approximately 560 kilometers south of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost tip, as of Wednesday afternoon. This system is expected to approach Taiwan closely on Thursday before veering toward China's Guangdong province. The outer circulation of TD20 is anticipated to deliver brief yet intense downpours across Taiwan until Saturday, with the heaviest rainfall forecasted for Thursday.

The second system, TD21, exhibits a well-organized structure, raising the likelihood of it strengthening into a typhoon as it approaches Taiwan between the following Tuesday and Wednesday. Chang noted that the storm's radius could reach 200 kilometers by Sunday, with a sea warning likely to be issued that evening. The storm's influence could extend to 250 kilometers the next day, potentially affecting southeastern and southern regions of Taiwan.

Chang further indicated that southeastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula should prepare for showers or thunderstorms on Thursday, with localized heavy or torrential rain possible. Temperatures in New Taipei are expected to soar to 38 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while other areas like Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin should anticipate highs exceeding 36 degrees.

On Friday and Saturday, while moisture levels may slightly decrease, southern, eastern, and southeastern Taiwan could still experience showers or thunderstorms, with scattered rain expected in central areas and afternoon thunderstorms in other regions. Heavy afternoon downpours remain a possibility for northern and central mountainous areas, Chang added.