Strengthening storm Mekkhala could prompt sea warning for Taiwan

Taipei, June 20 (CNA) Tropical Storm Mekkhala is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon on Monday and could come close enough to Taiwan later in the week to prompt a sea warning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Saturday.

As of 2 p.m., the storm was located 1,870 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southern tip and moving west-northwest at 23 km per hour.

CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said Mekkhala is expected to continue moving west-northwest through Tuesday under the influence of the Pacific high-pressure system before gradually turning north toward waters east of Taiwan or south of the Ryukyu Islands.

The timing and angle of the turn remain uncertain but current forecasts show the storm will be closest to Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, Cheng said.

While its track remains uncertain, the CWA has not ruled out issuing a sea warning.

Cheng said conditions over the next few days are expected to support further intensification, with Mekkhala likely strengthening into a typhoon on Monday.

However, the environment is expected to become less favorable after the storm turns north, potentially causing it to gradually weaken, he said.

Meanwhile, hot weather is expected to persist across Taiwan through Wednesday, with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and isolated afternoon thunderstorms in mountainous areas.

As Mekkhala moves northward east of Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, moisture is expected to increase under southwesterly winds along the edge of the Pacific high-pressure system.

Southern Taiwan could see scattered showers and thunderstorms during that period, while other areas are expected to remain partly cloudy with localized afternoon thunderstorms.

The storm is forecast to move farther away from Taiwan by Saturday, with weather returning to mostly sunny conditions and isolated afternoon showers, according to the CWA.