Premier Cho Jung-tai Inspects Weather Agency, Hopes for Full Reservoirs

(Central News Agency, reporter Zhang Xiongfeng, Taipei, June 9th) The Central Weather Administration predicts that today will be the most significant day of rainfall due to the influence of a stationary front and southwest air currents. Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed hope that the rain would allow reservoirs to "eat and drink their fill," while hoping the impact on general areas would not be too severe.

In response to the "0608 Stationary Front and Southwest Air Current Heavy Rain Event," the Central Weather Administration activated "Enhanced Operations for Large-Scale or Severe Heavy Rain Events." Premier Cho Jung-tai visited the Central Weather Administration this morning.

Cho stated that he hopes the heavy rain will all flow into the reservoirs, allowing them to be fully replenished, and that the heavy rain in general areas will not have a severe impact. However, he noted that an incident occurred yesterday at the Matai'an River, but fortunately, it ended safely. He reiterated that whenever any warning is issued, people and vehicles must be prohibited from entering construction sites, as the risk is too great, and local governments should strictly guard against it.

Cho pointed out that the Executive Yuan's Disaster Prevention Office has made complete preparations, integrating resources from various ministries. It has required local governments to maintain contact with the central government, and that prepared pumps, flood prevention equipment, and personnel should remain mobile to support low-lying areas at any time. Additionally, the Water Resources Agency, the Agriculture and Food Agency, the Highway Bureau, and the Taiwan Railway Administration have all activated Level 2 operations, implementing relevant response measures in advance.

Cho also praised the accuracy of the Weather Administration's forecasts, stating that increasingly accurate forecasts allow for better advance preparation and the integration of past experiences. He noted that the arrival of heavy rain cannot be prevented, but we must learn to coexist with it.

CWA Director-General Lu Kuo-chen stated that rainfall in Taiwan was scarce before early June, but from the 4th to the 8th, rain fell across the north, central, and south, benefiting reservoirs. This year, the southwest air current formed later, arriving in Taiwan only in early June. Based on past experience, it usually affects the area for about a week, and this week, accompanied by a stationary front, it will bring significant rainfall.

Lu pointed out that strong convection is currently in the area from the South China Sea to the Bashi Strait and is preparing to move into Taiwan. It may bring short-duration, intense rainfall in the afternoon, with rainfall increasing further in the western half and becoming more significant in the southern mountainous areas. He predicts that the period from this afternoon to tomorrow morning will be when the rain band passes through, which is also the time of the strongest rainfall.

Lu said that today the stationary front is over Taiwan, will gradually move southward tomorrow and on the 11th, and will move back in on the 12th, possibly remaining over Taiwan on the 13th and 14th. Regarding the southwest air current, it will be strong today but will gradually weaken from tomorrow. It is predicted to affect Taiwan with the intensity of a southwest wind on the 12th, which will not be as strong as today, but caution regarding the rain is still necessary. The weather may only gradually stabilize after the 15th. (Editor: Li Xizhang) 1150609