Mostly cloudy to sunny skies forecast across Taiwan Tuesday

Taipei, Sept. 8 (CNA) Most of Taiwan can expect cloudy to sunny skies on Tuesday but strengthening seasonal winds will likely bring rainfall to northern and eastern Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) has forecast.

Despite the generally clear weather expected Tuesday, the CWA did predict scattered showers along the north coast and in mountainous parts of Greater Taipei, and afternoon showers in eastern Taiwan and mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan.

The CWA said daytime highs would reach 30-32 degrees Celsius in western Taiwan and 28-29 degrees in the east on Tuesday before falling to 21-23 degrees in northern Taiwan and 24-25 degrees in the south at night.

On Wednesday and Thursday, strengthening seasonal northeasterly winds will bring showers to areas north of Taoyuan and in eastern Taiwan, while other parts of Taiwan will remain mostly cloudy to sunny, with brief afternoon showers possible in southern Taiwan, the CWA said.

The humidity is expected to increase on Friday, bringing showers to northern and eastern Taiwan, with a chance of heavy rain, the CWA said. Other parts of the island will be mostly cloudy, with afternoon showers possible in mountainous areas.

Over the weekend, localized showers are forecast in the Greater Taipei area and eastern and southern Taiwan, while other parts of the island will remain mostly cloudy, with afternoon showers possible, according to the CWA.

Also on Tuesday, the Ministry of Environment issued an "orange" air quality alert for central and southern Taiwan as well as the outlying islands of Matsu and Kinmen, indicating "unhealthy levels of pollution for sensitive groups," including children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions.

Air quality was "normal" in northern Taiwan and the Penghu Islands and "good" in eastern Taiwan, according to the ministry.