A tropical depression has formed southeast of Taiwan and is expected to
strengthen into a tropical storm as early as tomorrow.

The Central Weather Administration says it's currently pretty far away,
located 1,520 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southern tip E-luan-bi.

But the system, called Wipha (薇帕) if it becomes a storm, is moving westward
quickly at a speed of 34 kilometers per hour toward northern Luzon Island.

The CWA says Wipha would skirt Luzon and continue to move into the South
China Sea toward Guang-dong Province.

Forecasters say it will bring heavy or torrential rain to eastern Taiwan
starting Friday and people there should watch out for sudden downpour, flash
floods and mudslides.

The western half of the island won't be affected much except for afternoon
showers or thundershowers in the north and more consistent rain in the south.

(JL)