CWA issues heat alerts for six counties and cities in Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued six heat alerts on Wednesday, warning that highs in New Taipei and Taoyuan could hit 38 degrees Celsius.

A red alert was posted for New Taipei, Taiwan's most populous city, and Taoyuan, where highs may top 38 degrees for three straight days, the weather bureau said.

Orange alerts were posted for Taipei and Chiayi County, with highs of 36 degrees Celsius or more forecast for at least three days. Taichung and Changhua County were placed under yellow alerts for temperatures above 36 degrees, the CWA said.

The bureau said ultraviolet radiation will peak at dangerous levels around midday and urged the public to stay hydrated and use sun protection, with highs elsewhere in Taiwan forecast at 32 to 35 degrees.

Afternoon thunderstorms are forecast south of Taoyuan, with heavy rain possible in the mountains and lowlands through Taichung, the CWA said.

Eastern and southeastern areas, including Hualien, Taitung and the Hengchun Peninsula, will see scattered showers, with heavier rain in Taitung and Hengchun. Elsewhere, skies will be partly cloudy to sunny, the bureau said.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said hot weather will persist nationwide through Saturday, with a high chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

He said a European forecast model shows a tropical disturbance entering the South China Sea on Wednesday, with a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm Thursday or Friday.

Meanwhile, moisture from the south is forecast to move north from Sunday to Tuesday, bringing slightly cooler temperatures and scattered showers across Taiwan, Wu said.