High of 30°C forecast for parts of Taiwan Monday

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Temperatures are expected to rise in Taiwan on Monday, with a warmer southeasterly wind system sending the mercury soaring to 30 degrees Celsius in some areas, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Daytime temperatures will range between 25 and 27 degrees in northern parts of the country, and 28-29 degrees in central and southern areas, while a high of 30 degrees is expected in some mountainous areas of Kaohsiung in the south, the CWA said.

The mercury will drop sharply Monday night, however, the CWA said, forecasting lows of 15-16 degrees in northern and central Taiwan, and 17-18 degrees in the south.

Most of the country will see sunny skies on Monday, but some brief showers are likely in mountainous areas in the northern half of Taiwan and in the outlying Matsu islands, the CWA said.

The CWA has issued a dense fog advisory for Tainan and areas north of the city, as well as for Matsu, warning that low visibility on Monday in those areas could interrupt air traffic.

The warm weather across the country is expected to last until Wednesday, after which a mild weather front will sending temperatures down slightly on Thursday and Friday and bring some rain, the CWA said.

On Saturday, a cold air mass is likely to arrive, sending the mercury plunging, particularly in the north of the country, according to the weather agency.

Meanwhile, the air quality across most of Taiwan was expected to be fair to good on Monday, while an "orange" alert was issued for some areas of Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, indicating unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups such as the elderly, children, and people with cardiac or respiratory conditions, according to the Ministry of Environment.