Heat warning issued as mercury set to exceed 36℃

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Temperatures across Taiwan are expected to rise steadily during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday weekend under the influence of a strengthening Pacific high-pressure system, with highs likely to exceed 36 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast Friday that most parts of the island will see partly cloudy to sunny skies in the coming days, though there may be afternoon thunderstorms in mountainous areas, the Greater Taipei area and Yilan County.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach 33-35 degrees throughout Taiwan, with even higher readings possible in the Taipei Basin, inland areas of central and southern Taiwan and the East Rift Valley.

Foehn winds, warm and dry gusts that descend the sheltered side of mountains into valleys, could also push temperatures higher in Taitung County, the CWA said.

The agency issued an orange heat alert for Hualien County, where temperatures could reach 36 degrees or higher for consecutive days.

Yellow alerts were issued for 12 cities and counties, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Taitung County, warning of temperatures exceeding 36 degrees.

As of 10:30 a.m., the highest recorded temperature Friday was 35.8 degrees, in Dounan in Yunlin County. Of the only other two readings of 35 degrees or higher, one was recorded in Chiayi County and the other was recorded in Yunlin.

Meanwhile, strong southwesterly winds are likely in parts of Green Island, Orchid Island and the Matsu islands, the CWA said, urging caution when engaging in coastal and marine activities.

Independent weather expert Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said temperatures are likely to increase day by day through next Wednesday, creating conditions more typical of midsummer than early summer.

A tropical disturbance could develop east of the Philippines over the weekend and may strengthen into a tropical storm, which may track northeastward east of Taiwan and near the Ryukyu Islands, he said.