Extremely heavy rain advisories issued for central, southern Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) A southwestern air current continued to bring heavy rainfall to central and southern Taiwan on Sunday, with the Central Weather Administration (CWA) warning residents to look out for flooding, landslides and sudden downpours.

Parts of Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County are forecast to receive torrential rain -- defined by the CWA as 24-hour rainfall of at least 350 millimeters or 3-hour rainfall of at least 200 mm -- or extremely heavy rain, which means at least 200 mm in 24 hours or 100 mm in 3 hours.

Mountainous areas there could also see extremely torrential rain, defined as at least 500 mm in 24 hours, the agency added.

Heavy rain (at least 80 mm in 24 hours or 40 mm in one hour) or extremely heavy rain was also forecast for Yunlin County, Chiayi County, mountainous areas of Taitung County and Taiwan's southernmost Hengchun Peninsula, according to the agency.

As of 8 a.m., rainfall in Tainan's Nanhua District had reached 350 mm -- the highest total recorded nationwide on Sunday, the agency indicated.

Rainfall in Kaohsiung's Jiasian District and Pingtung County's Wutai Township reached 243 mm and 201 mm, respectively, according to CWA data.

Brief, intense afternoon downpours are also expected in northern and southeastern Taiwan, while brief thunderstorms are forecast for offshore islands including Penghu County, Kinmen County and the Matsu Islands.

The agency urged the public to avoid mountains and riverbanks due to the risk of landslides, falling rocks, mudslides, flash flooding and surging water levels, while people in low-lying areas were also advised to be alert for flooding.

Wu De-rong (吳德榮), an adjunct associate professor in National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, said the southwestern air current is expected to weaken and shift north on Tuesday.

Wu added that even after the shift, unstable atmospheric conditions could continue to bring heavy rain to central and southern Taiwan.

From Wednesday, however, a high-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean is forecast to bring sunny midsummer weather and daytime highs exceeding 38 degrees Celsius across Taiwan, Wu said.

According to the CWA, Typhoon Krosa was located east of Japan and moving northeast, with no direct impact on Taiwan.

The agency added that a tropical depression, located south of Japan, officially became Tropical Storm Bailu around 8 a.m. Sunday.

The tropical storm, defined as possessing maximum winds near its center of 62-117 kilometers per hour, was also moving away from Taiwan, and will not directly impact the country, the CWA said.