16 counties and cities under heavy rain alerts; 2 areas issue national thunderstorm warnings as Zheng Ming-dian warns: 'This convective cell is very strong'

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration has issued heavy and severe rain advisories for 16 counties and cities, with national-level alerts for thunderstorms in two regions as powerful convective cells develop. Former Meteorological Bureau chief Zheng Ming-dian warned on social media about a particularly strong convective cell forming in the northern part of the island.

The administration upgraded its advisories on Monday afternoon, forecasting localized heavy to torrential rainfall in mountainous areas of New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Chiayi County, and Kaohsiung City. Heavy rain is also possible in other areas, including Taipei, Miaoli, Yunlin, Tainan, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. Residents are urged to be aware of potential hazards such as lightning strikes, strong gusts, landslides, debris flow, flash floods in low-lying areas, and sudden rises in river levels.

National-level "disaster prevention" warnings for severe thunderstorms were issued for Nantou and Taichung, with immediate thunderstorm warnings covering areas including Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Yilan. These warnings indicate the possibility of intense short-duration rainfall accompanied by strong gusts, lightning, and thunder, lasting until approximately 5:30 PM. The advisories emphasize caution regarding flash floods, water accumulation in low-lying areas, reduced visibility, and lightning strikes.

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The northern convective cell is very strong.