Taiwan to see sunny, hot weather with afternoon showers in coming days

Taipei, Aug. 15 (CNA) Cloudy to sunny skies are expected across most parts of Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, with afternoon showers in eastern Taiwan and in coastal areas in the north, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

From Sunday to Tuesday, southern Taiwan will see scattered showers or thunderstorms, while other areas will be mostly cloudy to sunny with isolated afternoon thunderstorms, the CWA said.

Temperature-wise, highs of 30-35 degrees Celsius can be expected around Taiwan on Friday, although in some areas north of Hsinchu and near mountainous regions in the south, the mercury could move above 35 degrees, it said.

The CWA has issued a "yellow" heat advisory for the cities of Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan and Hsinchu County in the north and Tainan City and Pingtung County in the south, indicating that temperatures could reach or exceed 36 degrees.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said due to the effect of a Pacific high-pressure system, the weather across Taiwan will remain hot and sunny from Friday to Sunday, with scattered showers forecast in some parts of the island.

As the high-pressure system weakens, however, unstable weather is expected from Monday to Thursday, making rain more likely across Taiwan, Wu said.

Based on the latest forecast models, a tropical disturbance will occur in the South China Sea over the next two to three days, but whether it develops into a storm remains to be seen, he said.

Meanwhile, Wu said another tropical disturbance is brewing southeast of Taiwan and is moving northward, but is not likely to affect Taiwan. Its course remains somewhat uncertain, however, and it should be monitored, Wu said.