Hot weather, thundershowers forecast for Taiwan on Sunday

Taipei, June 8 (CNA) Temperatures around Taiwan could climb as high as 34 degrees Celsius on Sunday and a number of areas could also see thundershowers after noon, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Meanwhile, at 11:30 a.m., the weather agency issued a heat alert for Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, as well as for Hualien County in the east, with highs in those areas expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius by late afternoon.

According to CWA data, a temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in Neipu Township, Pingtung County, at 11:50 a.m., the highest temperature observed as of press time.

The CWA said Sunday's weather will be very similar to Saturday's in that it will be cloudy with a chance of sun all across the country, except Taiwan's outlying islands, which will instead see sunny weather with a chance of cloudiness.

Central and southern Taiwan saw localized short showers from early Sunday until noon, said the CWA.

After noon, locations north of central Taiwan, Yilan and Hualien counties, as well as mountainous areas around the nation, could get some thundershowers.

Localized showers and even heavy rain accompanied by thunder and strong winds could also happen, the CWA added.

Highs will average between 31 and 34 degrees, and the weather on Sunday will be hot and humid, the CWA said.

In Taiwan's offshore counties, Penghu County will experience temperatures ranging between 26 and 30 degrees, and Kinmen from 25 to 30 degrees, while Matsu could see 24 to 28 degrees.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said a tropical disturbance in the South China Sea has been forecasted drastically differently by models in Europe and the United States.

Therefore, while it was previously estimated that its prospective development into a tropical depression would become clear on Tuesday, Wu said the current forecast remains uncertain, but it could bring a robust amount of rain to Taiwan between Thursday and Saturday.

A tropical disturbance is a tropical weather system made up of organized showers and thunderstorms that last for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation, according to the American Meteorological Society.