Sunny, warm weather predicted across Taiwan over long weekend

Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Most of Taiwan will see warm and sunny weather on Friday, and that should continue over the weekend and into Monday until a weather front bringing rain approaches the island.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast mostly sunny skies for Friday, with sporadic rain in the mountains in southern and central Taiwan expected to taper off later in the day.

Daytime highs Friday should hit 26-28 degrees Celsius in northern and eastern Taiwan and about 32 degrees in the south, the CWA said.

On Friday night, the mercury will fall to 20-22 degrees in the northern half of Taiwan and to 23-25 degrees in the south, the CWA forecast.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the mostly sunny weather Friday will prevail across much of Taiwan from Saturday through Monday.

He cautioned, however, that there is a chance of isolated rain in mountainous areas on Saturday afternoon and afternoon thundershowers across Taiwan on Sunday.

On Monday, the southern half of Taiwan may start to see sporadic showers, which will extend to other parts of the island in the afternoon, Wu said.

Those conditions will give way on Tuesday to a weather front that will bring widespread rain, Wu said.

Meanwhile, the CWA issued strong wind advisories on Friday for coastal areas in the northeastern part of New Taipei and from Taoyuan to Changhua county, as well as in the Hengchun Peninsula, warning of strong winds of up to 39 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 62 kph.

The wind advisories were also in effect for the Penghu Islands and Green Island.

Also on Friday, the Ministry of Environment issued "orange level" air quality alerts for the Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu islands, warning of air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or cardiac conditions.