Tropical storm Francisco forms northeast of Philippines: CWA

Taipei, July 23 (CNA) A tropical depression located northeast of the Philippines strengthened into a tropical storm at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The CWA said the storm, named Francisco, is heading toward waters south of Okinawa.

As of 8 a.m., the eye of the storm was located 980 kilometers east of Cape Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, moving north-northwest at 20 km per hour.

The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts reaching 90kph, according to the CWA, which said the tropical storm was currently relatively small but needed to be monitored to see how it develops before deciding on whether to issue a sea warning.

The CWA said the storm is expected to get closest to Taiwan Thursday and Friday and could bring heavier rain to the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Echoing the CWA, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said Francisco will move over waters east of Taiwan before veering north of Taiwan and described it as having a loose structure and not being very strong.

Meanwhile, in terms of the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, the CWA said scorching heat will continue.

It has issued a yellow heat advisory for Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in the north and Tainan in the south, indicating daily maximum temperatures that could reach or exceed 36 degrees Celsius.

The warnings were to remain in effect at least into late Wednesday afternoon, the CWA said.

Daytime temperatures will largely range between 31 and 35 degrees around Taiwan as cloudy to sunny skies prevail.

Localized brief showers or even thundershowers are possible, however, in mountainous areas as well as low-lying areas in Chiayi County and regions south of the county in the afternoon, the CWA said.

Meanwhile, the air quality across most of Taiwan was fair to good on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Environment.