The approach of Typhoon In-Fa has brought heavy rain, filling up reservoirs that were running on empty just a few weeks ago. One Miaoli County reservoir is even discharging massive amounts of water ahead of the storm’s arrival to prevent overflowing.
What a difference a good, strong typhoon can make. Just weeks ago, Taiwanese reservoirs like Miaoli County’s Ming-te Reservoir were bone dry amid Taiwan’s worst drought in 56 years. Now, as Typhoon In-Fa’s outer bands soak the island, these reservoirs are bursting at the seams!
Ming-te Reservoir is at 99.4% capacity after heavy rains, with the water line nearly at its 61 meter maximum. With more heavy rain on the way as the storm approaches Taiwan, the reservoir has had to release large amounts of water. This was the first time the reservoir has dumped water in more than a year, and the spectacle of 50 to 80 square meters of water rushing out of the flood gates every second attracted a number of locals.
The plan is to create some space for the storm’s rain, preventing overflowing and letting the typhoon fill the reservoir back up to the top.