Taiwan issues heat advisories in 8 cities, counties; highs could top 36°C

Taipei, July 14 (CNA) Heat advisories have been issued for eight cities and counties in Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Tuesday, warning daytime temperatures could surpass 36 degrees Celsius.

The CWA said an "orange" heat alert has taken effect in Changhua County in central Taiwan and Hualien County in the east, indicating the mercury will hit 36 degrees for three days in a row.

A "yellow" heat warning has been in place in Yunlin, Chiayi and Pingtung counties, and Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung cities in the south, the CWA said, forecasting temperature highs could top 36 degrees on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Taiwan, daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 34-35 degrees, the CWA said, warning of high levels of ultraviolet radiation, particularly around midday on Tuesday, and advised the public to stay hydrated and take precautions against heatstroke.

While sunny skies will prevail on Tuesday, the CWA said, with moisture moving northward, massive precipitation in areas north of Chiayi is possible in the afternoon. The agency said it did not rule out the possibility of issuing heavy rain or extremely heavy rain alerts.

The CWA said heat is expected to escalate in the southeast, where foehn winds -- warm and dry gusts that descend the leeward side of mountains into valleys -- are possible Wednesday and Thursday, which could cause temperatures to rise to 38 degrees.

Meanwhile, the eye of Tropical Storm Haishen, which was formed Monday morning, was located about 1,850 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, as of 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to the CWA.

It said the storm, which is far away from Taiwan, is fragile and could dissipate shortly, and the country will feel no threats from it.