Partly sunny weather forecast for Taiwan, but some rain expected

Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) Much of Taiwan will be sunny Friday but some areas will see localized rain throughout the day due to the ongoing effects of easterly winds, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The agency said the easterly winds will bring brief and localized rains to mountainous areas of Greater Taipei, Yilan County, the Hengchun Peninsula and Taiwan's northern coast.

In the afternoon, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County as well as mountainous areas across Taiwan could see short thundershowers, the CWA said.

Other parts of the island will be mostly sunny throughout the day, with temperatures expected to reach 33-35 degrees Celsius in the east and 31-32 degrees in the west, the weather agency forecast.

The CWA issued red heat alerts for parts of New Taipei and Taoyuan, indicating that temperatures could exceed 38 degrees Celsius for three or more consecutive days in those areas.

Tainan was placed under an orange alert, signaling highs of 36 degrees or above for at least three days, while Hsinchu, Miaoli and Pingtung counties were given yellow alerts, where daily maximum temperatures will reach 36 degrees, the CWA said.

Amid the heat, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the first wave of northeasterly winds accompanied by cooler air will arrive Saturday evening.

Wu said the incoming seasonal winds will cool down the Greater Taipei area and the eastern half of Taiwan, bringing more precipitation to those locations.

The seasonal winds will then bring rain to all areas in Taiwan between Sunday until next Wednesday, Wu said, adding that the effects of cooler temperatures will not be severe, dropping the mercury by only about 3 degrees around the island.

Only northern Taiwan could experience a more significant temperature difference due the current high temperatures and expected rainy weather patterns, Wu said.