Temperatures rise ahead of possible Thursday thunderstorms: CWA

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) Temperatures across Taiwan are expected to rise to 33 degrees Celsius from Tuesday afternoon as northeasterly winds weaken, before a weather front arrives Thursday that could bring extreme conditions, forecasters said.

With the weakening of northeasterly winds, temperatures will rise across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, with daytime highs ranging from 23 to 30 degrees in the north, 25 to 32 degrees in central areas and 24 to 33 degrees in the south, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

On Tuesday, brief isolated showers are expected in eastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula in the south and the greater Taipei area, while other regions -- including the outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu -- will see partly cloudy to sunny weather, according to the CWA.

Similar conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday daytime, before another weather front moves in later that day, bringing localized rainfall, the CWA said.

Meanwhile, meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) warned that the weather front expected to arrive on Thursday could bring periods of extreme weather, including thunderstorms, strong winds and brief downpours.

As the weather front moves south into the Bashi Channel on Friday -- the first day of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday -- southern Taiwan can expect localized morning showers, Wu said.

However, Wu said Taiwan can expect clear weather and rising temperatures on Saturday.

On Sunday, the entire island will have sunny to partly cloudy skies, with occasional localized showers in the mountains in the afternoon, Wu added.