Western Taiwan to be Cloudy to Sunny on the 17th; Afternoon Heavy Rain Expected in Kaohsiung-Pingtung and Central-Southern Mountain Areas

Central News Agency, Taipei, 16th - The Central Weather Administration stated that tomorrow the western half of Taiwan will be partly cloudy to sunny, but with significant afternoon thundershowers, especially in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area and the mountainous regions of central and southern Taiwan, where localized heavy rain is likely. Northern areas will experience highs of around 29-30 degrees Celsius, rising to 32-33 degrees from the 19th. The central and southern regions will remain hot, with some areas reaching 36 degrees.

Liu Pei-Teng, a forecaster at the Central Weather Administration, told a Central News Agency reporter that tomorrow's weather will be similar to today's, continuing to be influenced by easterly winds. The eastern half and the Hengchun Peninsula will have localized brief showers, while the western half will be generally partly cloudy to sunny. However, afternoon thundershowers will be prominent, with localized heavy rain likely in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung region and the mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan. The mountainous areas south of Hsinchu and some flatlands will also experience brief afternoon showers.

However, Liu stated that from the 18th, the easterly wind pattern will weaken and moisture will decrease. Not only will rainfall in the eastern half decrease, but afternoon thundershowers in the mountainous areas of the western half will also ease slightly, reducing the likelihood of localized heavy rain.

Liu said that from the 19th, the weather pattern will shift from easterly to southerly winds with no significant moisture. Most areas will be partly cloudy to sunny, with only sporadic rain in the Hengchun Peninsula and Taitung. Afternoon rain will be concentrated in localized mountainous areas, with a possibility of afternoon showers in Yilan and the flatlands near the mountains of the greater Taipei area.

Liu stated that the weather will be generally hot and sweltering, continuing until the 23rd, with an overall trend of decreasing rainfall. Rainfall in Taitung and the Hengchun Peninsula is expected to further decrease, with afternoon rain mainly remaining in the mountainous areas north of central Taiwan.

Regarding temperature, Liu warned to be mindful of high temperatures. In the next two days, influenced by easterly winds, northern highs will be around 29 to 30 degrees Celsius. From the 19th, as the weather pattern shifts to southerly winds, highs will rise to about 32 degrees.

Liu said that the central and southern regions will continue to be hot. Today, localized high temperatures have already appeared in the Yujing and Nanhua areas of Tainan. In the coming week, there is still a high probability of temperatures exceeding 36 degrees in the inland areas near the mountains of the south. If the warming continues, even the north could see temperatures of 36 degrees. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150516