Brief showers forecast for Friday; tropical storms may be forming

Taipei, July 4 (CNA) Brief showers can be expected in the eastern half of Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula on Friday as a Pacific high-pressure system weakens, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Areas south of Hsinchu and its mountainous regions could also see brief showers later in the afternoon, while chances of heavy rain are likely in parts of central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said.

The hot weather will continue to prevail throughout the day with temperature highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius, although some areas in western Taiwan could likely see the mercury rise above 36 degrees, it forecast.

In Taiwan's outlying Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu islands, highs of 31-37 degrees are to be expected.

Meanwhile, a low pressure system in the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan could strengthen into a tropical depression in the coming days, bringing about unstable weather as it moves northward during the weekend, the CWA said.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) forecast that Taiwan could feel the full effect of the weather system between Sunday and Monday.

The depression, if it develops into a tropical storm, would be named Danas, Wu said.

Based on the latest forecast models, sunny and hot weather are expected to continue through Saturday before rain begins to affect southern Taiwan and the eastern half of the island the following day, he said.

Meanwhile, Wu said another tropical system that has formed near the northern tip of Luzon in the Philippines was moving westward under the influence of a Pacific high-pressure system.

It is forecast to gradually veer northeast on Saturday and through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, he said, but noted that its path required further observation.