Hot, sunny weather forecast before cold front's arrival Friday

Taipei, March 26 (CNA) Hot and mostly sunny weather is forecast across Taiwan until Friday, when an approaching weather system will bring cooler temperatures as well as rain in the north, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The CWA forecast daytime highs of 28-33 degrees Celsius nationwide Wednesday, with slightly warmer temperatures on Thursday and much lower temperatures at night.

On Wednesday, the north will continue to be affected by smog, with the air quality index (AQI) forecast to rise above 150 in some areas, indicating unhealthy conditions for all groups, the Ministry of the Environment said.

The ministry blamed the smoggy conditions on the wind, saying that the prevailing southwesterly winds were funneling pollutants into the north.

On Friday morning, an incoming cold air mass will break the recent warm spell, bringing cooler, cloudy weather to much of Taiwan and rain to the north, the CWA said.

Temperatures over the weekend will remain on the cool side, with highs below 20 degrees and a continued chance of rain in the north, and highs in the low 20s in other regions, the CWA's 7-day forecast showed.

According to independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), the cold front is expected to weaken in the early part of next week.

As a result, temperatures will gradually rebound from March 31 to April 2, though conditions in the north will remain cool and wet, Wu said.

Based on current forecasting models, the weather is expected to be stable, clear and warm over the Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Day holidays on Thursday and Friday next week, Wu said.