Heavy rain warning issued for eastern Taiwan
Taipei-The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) on Friday issued a heavy rain warning for eastern areas of Taiwan, citing the continued effects of a northeastern wind system.
Yilan, Hualien and Taitung can expect heavy rain in the morning period, but the downpours will ease later in the day, the CWB said.
In addition, a heavy rain alert has also become effective in Pingtung in southern Taiwan, the CWB said.
Under the CWB warning system, a heavy rain warning means more than 80mm of accumulated rainfall in 24 hours or more than 40mm in one hour.
Elsewhere, cloudy to sunny skies are forecast for Friday, with sporadic showers in the mountainous areas of northern Taiwan, the CWB said.
Due to the northeasterly winds, temperatures are expected to drop sharply at night, particularly in central and southern Taiwan, the CWB said.
Daytime highs will range between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan and will hit 31 degrees in the central and southern areas, the CWB said.
At night, temperatures will fall to 20-24 degrees nationwide, the CWB said.
Also on Friday, strong winds and high waves are likely in coastal areas north of Tainan; on the Hengchun Peninsula; in southeastern Taiwan, including Green Island and Orchid Island; and in the outlying Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu islands, the CWB said.
People engaged in outdoor activities in those areas are advised to exercise caution, the bureau said.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said the air quality was good Yilan, Hualien and Taitung in the east, and fair in northern Taiwan and Penghu.
Due to the lack of wind to disperse atmospheric pollutants, however, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was flashing an "orange alert" in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan in southern Taiwan as well as in Matsu and Kinmen, indicating unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, according to the EPA.
The air quality in some parts of Kaohsiung and in Pingtung in the south was unhealthy for the general public, with the AQI flashing a "red alert," the EPA's monitoring network showed.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel