Scorching Temperatures Expected to Hit Greater Taipei, CWA Issues Heat Warnings

Taipei: The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has forecasted that temperatures in parts of Taiwan, including Taipei, could soar beyond 36 degrees Celsius on Sunday.According to Focus Taiwan, the CWA has issued heat warnings, placing Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Tainan under orange warnings, indicating that these areas are likely to experience three consecutive days of 36-degree weather. Meanwhile, Taichung has been given a yellow warning, with temperatures in the central Taiwanese city expected to reach 36 degrees on Sunday.As of noon, four locations around Taiwan had already recorded temperatures of 36 degrees or higher: Shezi Island in Taipei (37.3 degrees), Wugu District in New Taipei (36.7 degrees), Neihu District in Taipei (36.1 degrees), and Lukang in Changhua County (36.0 degrees).The CWA has also cautioned about strong ultraviolet radiation around midday, advising those who venture outside to protect themselves from the sun and stay hydrated. The weather a gency has predicted afternoon thunderstorms south of Hsinchu County in the west of the island, heavy rain in central mountainous areas, thunderstorms in eastern mountainous areas, and extremely heavy rain in southern Taiwan. Additionally, Keelung City in the north is likely to experience scattered showers, while other regions, including Taiwan's outlying islands, will be mostly cloudy to sunny.Wu De-rong, an adjunct associate professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Central University (NCU), explained that Taiwan is currently under the influence of a high-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean, resulting in extremely hot and sunny conditions. Wu added that Taiwan will remain hot in the coming week, with weather conditions ranging from mostly sunny to cloudy until midweek. Increased moisture and unstable conditions are expected to lead to stronger afternoon convection and rain as the weekend approaches. Wu also mentioned that two tropical disturbances are gradually developing - one in the South China Sea and another southeast of Taiwan - although neither is expected to directly impact Taiwan.