Taiwan faces more flooding as extreme rain may total in excess of 1,200 mm

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Robert Richards, AccuWeather meteorologist

August 26, 2018, 10:19:08 AM EDT

Taiwan is bracing for prolonged flooding and evacuations as bouts of torrential rain continue to stream in on a nearly daily basis through at least early this week.

Persistent moisture is expected to lead to rounds of heavy rain targeting central and southern Taiwan.

Chiayi City has reported 631.5 mm of rain. Tainan City has reported 579.0 mm of rain. Yunlin has reported 49.5 mm of rain. All of these rainfall totals started to accumulate on Thursday, local time.

The stormy weather has already claimed at least two lives, according to The News Lens International.

Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated following flood waters overflowing a canal in Tainan City on Friday. The flooding has also forced the closure of 31 bridges and 87 roads in Tainan as a safety precaution, the city government said.

Flooding forced work and school to be suspended in many counties and cities, according to Taiwan News. Taiwan’s High Speed Rail line between Kaohsiung and Tainan was suspended temporarily.

Five cargo ships and oil tankers ran aground off Kaohsiung Harbor amid rough seas as surf battered the southern and western coastline of Taiwan on Friday. Of the 66 crew on board the ships, 52 have been rescued so far, according to Al Jazeera.

"Due to the close proximity to land, this first tropical threat may struggle to become a tropical depression or storm," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.

Another surge in moisture can put many of these same areas at risk for more heavy rain early this week.

By the middle of the week, rainfall may total 250-750 mm (10-30 inches) in the coastal communities. AccuWeather Local StormMax™ in the mountains can top 1,250 mm (50 inches).

"The mountains do experience very heavy rain such as this on occasion, so the terrain and rivers can handle extreme rainfall," Douty said. "This will help to limit the amount of major flooding; however, there can likely still be some flooding to deal with."

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Mudslides can be triggered and lead to road closures, which can cut off remote areas.

The urban areas may have to deal with days of flooding with mounting road closures and evacuations. More flights and rail service can be halted.

Streams and rivers may further rise to flood neighboring homes and land.

Businesses and parents should prepare for additional days of canceled work and school, which can have economical impacts across the region.

Anyone living in flood-prone areas should monitor advice from local officials and heed any evacuation orders. Remember never to drive through a flooded road to avoid a potentially deadly situation.

Even in the absence of flooding, heavy rain can lead to hazards by reducing visibility and heightening the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.