Taipei: A tropical depression currently located east of the Philippines may intensify into a tropical storm named Wipha by Friday, although its trajectory remains uncertain, as reported by Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Tuesday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the tropical depression is rapidly developing and is predicted to navigate through the Bashi Channel, heading toward China’s southeastern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. CWA forecaster Huang En-hung conveyed to CNA that if the system follows the anticipated path, it will be nearest to Taiwan between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

However, the intensity and path of the system are still uncertain, and the decision to issue a typhoon warning will rely on further observation, Huang noted. The outer circulation of the potential storm may result in localized heavy to torrential rain in parts of Taiwan, particularly in the east, south, and the Hengchun Peninsula, from Thursday to Friday. Brief showers and thunderstorms are expected in these areas from Friday to Monday, he added.

Huang mentioned that on Wednesday, influenced by southwesterly winds, temperatures in the Greater Taipei area could reach as high as 36 degrees Celsius, similar to Tuesday’s temperatures. Other regions in Taiwan are predicted to experience highs around 32 to 33 degrees Celsius. There is a possibility of showers or thunderstorms south of Miaoli from early morning to noon on Wednesday, with potential heavy rain. In the afternoon, heavy rain could occur in the Greater Taipei area and mountainous regions.

On Thursday, a slight reduction in moisture is expected, leading to mostly cloudy to sunny skies nationwide. However, brief localized thunderstorms and heavy rain may still occur in the mountainous and southern regions during the afternoon, Huang concluded.