Front, southwest winds trigger heavy rain alerts across Taiwan

Taipei, June 8 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Monday issued heavy rain advisories for 16 cities and counties across Taiwan, warning that an approaching seasonal front, strengthening southwesterly winds, and strong afternoon convection could bring localized downpours into the evening.

The advisories were issued for Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Yilan, Yunlin, Chiayi City and County, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and the Hengchun Peninsula, as well as mountainous areas of Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, and Nantou. Taiwan's northern coast and the outlying Matsu islands (Lienchiang County) were also included in the warning.

The CWA urged the public to beware of lightning strikes and strong gusts of wind, and to be on the alert for possible landslides and rockfalls in mountainous areas and flooding in low-lying regions.

The weather agency also issued heat advisories on Monday, warning of temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius around midday in Hualien and Taitung counties, with possible foehn winds in Taitung.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the rainfall is expected to intensify in the coming days as a stationary front lingers near Taiwan and interacts with the southwest monsoon.

The fifth stationary front of this year's plum rain season is gradually approaching Taiwan, with prevailing southwesterly winds increasing atmospheric instability and expanding areas of convective activity, he said.

The front is expected to hover over Taiwan on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing prolonged periods of convection and increasing the risk of thunderstorms, strong winds and intense rainfall, he said.

He warned that the combination of the front and persistent southwesterly flow could produce rainfall heavy enough to trigger flooding and other weather-related disasters.

While the front may shift slightly southward on Thursday, giving northern Taiwan a brief respite from rain, central and southern Taiwan are likely to continue experiencing strong convective activity, Wu said.

From Friday through next Monday, the front is forecast to move northward again, bringing widespread rainfall to Taiwan, he said.

This is a typical peak phase of the plum rain season, Wu said, urging continued vigilance against severe weather and rain-related disasters.