2 tropical storms could form over next 24 hours: CWA

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Two tropical depressions -- one near Guam and the other located in the South China Sea -- could strengthen into tropical storms within the next 24 hours, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Wednesday.

CWA data showed that the center of the system near Guam was located about 4,600 kilometers east of Taiwan's southernmost tip of Eluanbi at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

The other system in the South China Sea was about 900 kilometers south-southwest of Eluanbi and moved west-northwest at 26 kph before turning west and slowing to a speed of 22 kph.

CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) told CNA that both tropical depressions could develop into tropical storms within the next 24 hours, becoming this year's ninth and 10th named storms, Bavi and Maysak, respectively.

The South China Sea system is expected to move northwestward and make landfall in Guangdong or Guangxi provinces, China, around Friday or Saturday as a tropical storm, Tseng said, adding that it would not impact Taiwan.

As for the system near Guam, Tseng noted favorable environmental conditions are expected to allow it to continue intensifying after becoming a tropical storm, with a chance of it reaching typhoon strength by the weekend.

Based on current forecasts, the storm could develop into a "strong and large" typhoon with a storm radius of 350 km, Tseng said.

Over the next seven days the system is expected to move toward the Ryukyu Islands. Whether it will affect Taiwan will depend on when it turns northward, Tseng added, noting that forecast models from different countries still differ and the storm's route will require continued monitoring.

Tseng forecast the weather will remain relatively stable over the coming week. From Thursday through July 8, skies across Taiwan will generally be partly cloudy to sunny, with afternoon thunderstorms in parts of the island.

On Thursday, thunderstorms are expected to affect areas north of Hsinchu, Yunlin and Chiayi, as well as mountainous areas nationwide, with isolated heavy rainfall possible in the mountains of central and northern Taiwan, the forecaster said.

In terms of temperatures, Tseng said daytime highs across Taiwan are expected to range from 32 to 35 degrees Celsius over the next week, with highs exceeding 36 degrees in parts of the Greater Taipei Basin, areas close to mountains in central and southern Taiwan, and the Huadong Valley in the east.