Torrential rain advisories in force across Taiwan as tropical storm nears

Taipei, Nov. 11 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has issued an "extreme torrential rain" advisory for Yilan County and heavy rain alerts for several other areas, as Tropical Storm Fung-Wong continued to move toward southern Taiwan.

The rain advisories, issued early Tuesday, will remain in effect through Tuesday night, according to the CWA.

"Extreme torrential rain" is defined by the agency as rainfall exceeding 500 millimeters within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a torrential rain advisory -- meaning accumulated rainfall of 350 mm or more in 24 hours or more than 200 mm within three hours - was issued for Taipei, New Taipei, Hualien County and Taitung County.

The CWA also warned of extremely heavy or heavy rain in several other cities and counties, including Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

A land warning for Tropical Storm Fung-Wong was issued at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The CWA said rainfall is expected to intensify across most of Taiwan throughout the day due to the combined influence of northeasterly winds and Tropical Storm Fung-Wong's outer bands.

Rainfall in mountainous parts of Greater Taipei and eastern Taiwan is expected to be significant and persistent, with a chance of localized torrential rain, the agency said.

The CWA urged people to exercise caution when outdoors and to be aware of possible landslides, falling rocks, and river surges in mountainous areas. Brief, scattered showers are also forecast from Taoyuan in the north to Kaohsiung and Pingtung in the south.

Daytime highs are forecast to range between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius in areas north of Hsinchu and across Taiwan's eastern half and 27-30 degrees elsewhere.

The CWA said that as Fung-Wong moves closer to Taiwan on Wednesday, heavy to torrential rain is expected in the central and southern parts of the island.

The tropical storm is forecast to weaken and gradually move away on Thursday, with rainfall easing in most areas except for northern Taiwan, where localized downpours may persist. The CWA said, however, that the storm's path and intensity remain uncertain as it turns north toward Taiwan.