Heat alert issued for 12 areas in western Taiwan: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Tuesday issued a high heat alert for 12 areas in western Taiwan, with parts of New Taipei placed under the most severe warning for consecutive days of extreme heat.

According to the CWA, a red alert was issued for areas in New Taipei, Taiwan's most populous municipality, indicating that temperatures could exceed 38 degrees Celsius for three or more consecutive days.

Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung were placed under an orange alert, signaling highs of 36 degrees or above for at least three days, while similar warnings were issued for Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Chiayi counties.

Hsinchu County was forecast to see temperatures of 36 degrees or higher on Tuesday, the agency said.

The CWA forecast partly sunny skies across most of Taiwan, with lows of 25-27 degrees Celsius after sunset.

Despite the generally clear skies Tuesday, localized afternoon showers, particularly in eastern Taiwan, were also in the forecast.

The CWA issued an advisory for extremely heavy rain on the Hengchun Peninsula and for heavy rain in Taitung County and its outlying Green and Orchid islands.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said a tropical disturbance is currently hovering over waters east of the Philippines and could strengthen into a tropical storm between Thursday and Friday.

He said, however, that the system is projected to move westwards and will not directly affect Taiwan.