Rain forecast for northern, central Taiwan from Thursday night

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Scattered showers or thunderstorms are expected in northern and central Taiwan, as well as Yilan County in the northeast, from late Thursday night as a frontal system approaches, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said the wet weather could continue through Friday in those areas, while other parts of Taiwan are expected to see mostly cloudy skies.

Over the weekend, northeasterly winds are expected to bring brief showers to Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan, Cheng said.

Afternoon thunderstorms could also occur in central and southern Taiwan and mountainous areas in the north, he added.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jangmi is expected to come closest to Taiwan between Sunday and Monday as it moves near the Ryukyu Islands, though the chance of a direct impact remains low, Cheng said.

Due to the storm's outer bands, northern Taiwan and Yilan could see brief showers during that period, while other areas are expected to have mostly cloudy to sunny skies, with afternoon thunderstorms possible in mountainous regions.

According to the CWA, as of 2 p.m. Thursday, Jangmi was centered 1,880 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, and was moving northwest to west-northwest at 17 kilometers per hour.

Cheng said the storm is forecast to move toward southern Japan through June 4.

As it does, Taitung and the Hengchun Peninsula in southern Taiwan could see brief showers, while other areas are expected to remain mostly cloudy to sunny.