Tropical Storm Usagi May Impact Taiwan with Sea Warnings Ahead

Tropical Storm Usagi, the fourth storm to form recently in the western Pacific, may affect Taiwan with potential sea warnings starting tomorrow. The storm is currently 660 km northwest of Yap Islands, moving at 27 kph. Its trajectory appears to be shifting north, indicating risks for Taiwan’s eastern waters. This phenomenon marks a rare occurrence of four concurrent tropical systems in November.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has indicated that Tropical Storm Usagi could impact Taiwan, potentially issuing sea warnings as soon as tomorrow. As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the storm was located 660 km northwest of the Yap Islands, with a radius of 80 km. It is advancing west-northwest at 27 kph, sustaining maximum winds of 72 kph, with gusts reaching 101 kph. Forecasts show Usagi trending northward, possibly affecting Taiwan’s eastern waters this weekend. Notably, the concurrent formation of four tropical weather systems in the western Pacific during November is unusual. Other storms, Yinxing, Toraji, and Manyi, are not expected to affect Taiwan, while Yinxing is weakening significantly and projected to dissipate soon.

Tropical Storm Usagi is the fourth storm to form in the western Pacific within a span of ten days, a rare occurrence for November. The CWA reported that the storm’s trajectory seems to be shifting northward, which raises concerns for Taiwan as sea warnings may be necessary. Historical data indicates that this is the first instance of four active tropical storms reported concurrently since October 1994. The rapid development of storms in this region illustrates the volatility of weather patterns in the Pacific, especially during this time of year.

The emergence of Tropical Storm Usagi has raised potential concerns for Taiwan, with the Central Weather Administration monitoring its path closely. This storm contributes to an unusual weather situation in which multiple systems are active concurrently in the Pacific, a phenomenon that has not been observed in nearly three decades. Authorities will continue to provide updates as Usagi’s impact becomes clearer in the coming days.

Original Source: www.taipeitimes.com