Heavy rain warnings issued for 14 Taiwan municipalities

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Thursday issued rain advisories for 11 cities and counties in the northern, central and western Taiwan, warning of heavy and persistent showers in those areas.

The heavy rain advisories covered Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Keelung and Chiayi cities, as well as Hsinchu, Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin Chiayi, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung counties.

According to the CWA, the rains were expected to be heaviest in the coastal and mountainous areas of the 14 municipalities.

Sporadic heavy showers can also be expected in the western half of Taiwan on Thursday, the CWA said.

However, the rain is likely to ease by Thursday afternoon, the weather agency said.

The CWA also issued strong wind advisories Thursday for 13 areas, namely Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Hsinchu cities as well as Hsinchu, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taitung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties.

According to Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), the heavy rains on Thursday were due to a weather front that was bringing atmospheric moisture from the south.

He said some rain was likely to last into Friday across the country, and the weather will turn sunny and warm Saturday morning.

By Saturday afternoon, however, another weather front will bring sporadic rain across Taiwan again, Wu said.

When that weather front leaves, a continental cold air mass will move in Sunday from the north, sending the mercury down in northern parts of the country, he said, adding that the weather will also be wet and chilly in central and southern areas.