Low-pressure system to bring severe weather through the weekend

Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 10 cities and counties on Tuesday, but a low-pressure system looms and could bring a heightened risk of severe weather through next Monday.

The CWA issued orange heat alerts for parts of Taipei and New Taipei cities and Nantou and Yunlin counties, where temperatures could reach 36 degrees or higher for three consecutive days.

Yellow heat alerts were issued for Taoyuan, Chiayi and Tainan cities and Changhua, Chiayi and Hualien counties, where highs of 36 degrees are possible for a single day.

The CWA also issued heavy rain advisories for New Taipei's mountainous areas and Yilan County, with localized downpours also possible along the north coast and in Hualien and Taitung.

Strong wind advisories remained in effect through Tuesday evening for parts of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Pingtung County, Penghu County and Lienchiang County, where sustained winds of 41-51 kilometers per hour (Beaufort force 6) or gusts of 63-75 kph (force 8) are possible.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said, meanwhile, that a low-pressure system is expected to move slowly across Taiwan from Wednesday through next Monday, making the atmosphere even more unstable.

Writing in an online weather column, Wu said daytime temperatures will remain hot before rainfall develops, while strong convective systems could produce lightning, powerful wind gusts and intense short-duration rainfall.

According to Wu, a Pacific high-pressure system is expected to strengthen from Aug. 25-27, bringing sunny and hot weather across Taiwan, with only isolated afternoon showers in mountainous areas.

Wu also said forecast models indicate a tropical disturbance could begin developing east of Guam on Thursday and move to the northwest.

Current projections suggest it could turn north near the Ryukyu Islands between Aug. 25 and 27 and may not approach Taiwan, he said.