TAIPEI — Weather watchers are keeping a close eye on a trio of tropical disturbances forming near Taiwan, with experts warning that one to two tropical depressions or typhoons could develop as early as this week.
According to the “Taiwan Typhoon Forum | Weather Emergency,” tropical disturbances labeled 97W and 98W are currently organizing in the western Pacific—97W to the east of the Philippines and 98W to the north of Guam. Both are forming within a broad monsoon low-pressure zone, where multiple systems are interacting and influencing each other’s development. Due to their mutual interference, meteorologists say the situation is still fluid and difficult to predict with certainty.
Adding to the complexity is the formation of a third system, 99W, located northeast of Luzon, Philippines. This new disturbance is forecast to cross the Bashi Channel and enter the South China Sea within the next three days. Some computer models indicate a possibility of slight intensification after it enters the sea, though its long-term path and strength remain uncertain.
Weather officials have highlighted the need to monitor the potential interaction between 99W and 97W. Should either system strengthen or significantly influence the other, it could reshape the regional weather dynamics and increase unpredictability for Taiwan’s forecast later in the week.
Meanwhile, the Central Weather Administration reported that Typhoon Wipha made landfall in Vietnam around 8 a.m. today. Behind Wipha, a vast monsoon trough extends from the South China Sea to the waters east of the Philippines, creating favorable conditions for more tropical systems to form.
Wu Wanhua, a technical officer at the agency, explained that tropical disturbance 97W is currently developing over the Philippine Sea and may drift northward toward the Ryukyu Islands. It could approach the waters off Taiwan’s east or northeast coast by Thursday or Friday. The agency is closely monitoring its progression and will issue updates if its intensity or path poses a threat.
As the northwest Pacific enters a particularly active period, weather experts recommend that residents stay informed and prepared for rapidly shifting forecasts in the coming days.
