Taipei: Torrential rain is expected to continue across western Taiwan throughout Friday due to the effects of a weather front and southwesterly winds, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

According to Focus Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chao Hung stated that the weather front and southwesterly wind system remained unstable on Friday, causing ongoing downpours. The outer bands of Tropical Storm Mekkhala, currently near Okinawa, have worsened the weather conditions.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala is anticipated to move toward waters south of Kyushu, with its center continuing to distance itself from Taiwan. Chao mentioned that the CWA has issued a torrential rain advisory for Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County, predicting accumulated rainfall could exceed 350 millimeters in 24 hours or 200 millimeters in three hours.

Extremely heavy rain or torrential rain advisories are also active for mountainous areas of New Taipei and Hsinchu County in the north, as well as Tainan City and the Hengchun Peninsula in the south. An extremely heavy rain warning indicates that accumulated rainfall could surpass 200 millimeters in 24 hours or 100 millimeters in three hours.

Heavy rain or extremely heavy rain advisories are in place for the north coast, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Yilan County, and Taitung County's mountainous regions in the east, along with Penghu County.

Additionally, heavy rain advisories have been issued for Keelung City, Nantou County, and other parts of Taitung County, where 24-hour accumulated rainfall could exceed 80 millimeters. These advisories are expected to be in effect through Friday night.

The heavy rain has persisted since Thursday, with Jiuru Township in Pingtung County recording 667 millimeters of rainfall over the past day, as reported by the CWA. After Friday night, rainfall is projected to moderate in the northern half of Taiwan but will continue in Hualien and Taitung, as well as windward areas in the south.

Chao indicated that some areas in western Taiwan might experience heavy rain or extremely heavy rain on Saturday before conditions stabilize on Sunday due to a strengthening Pacific high-pressure system.