Tainan on Alert for High Temperatures on May 20; Front Expected to Approach Taiwan Around May 27

(CNA, by reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, May 19) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) stated that weather across Taiwan will be warm to hot tomorrow, with Tainan potentially experiencing localized high temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius or more. From May 21-22, moisture will slightly increase, resulting in a broader area of afternoon thundershowers. The weather is expected to stabilize from May 23 to 26. The next front is predicted to approach Taiwan around May 27. CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen told a CNA reporter that tomorrow will be warm to hot everywhere, with high temperatures likely to reach over 30 degrees. The weather will be generally partly cloudy to clear, with localized brief afternoon thundershowers in the Greater Taipei area, Yilan, and other mountainous regions. The CWA has also issued a high-temperature advisory, noting that due to the hot weather, Tainan City will be under a yellow alert around noon tomorrow for temperatures exceeding 36 degrees. Cheng stated that from May 21-22, moisture will slightly increase, making the weather somewhat unstable. The prevailing wind will shift to a southwesterly direction, expanding the area of rainfall. There will be sporadic brief showers in areas north of Taoyuan, Taitung, and the Hengchun Peninsula, with localized brief afternoon thundershowers in the northern region, the Yilan-Hualien area, and other mountainous regions. Cheng pointed out that from May 23 to 26, the weather will stabilize with less moisture. Most areas will be partly cloudy to clear, with localized brief afternoon thundershowers in the Yilan region, and scattered brief thundershowers in the Hualien-Taitung area and the mountains north of central Taiwan. Current forecasts suggest a front will move south on May 27-28 and affect Taiwan on the 29th; however, there are still discrepancies among various international forecast models, requiring further observation. Regarding temperatures, Cheng said there will be little change over the next week. Lows will be around 22 to 26 degrees, with highs in the western half of Taiwan at about 31 to 34 degrees, and in the eastern half at 30 to 33 degrees. Temperatures may drop by 1 or 2 degrees with rainfall. He noted that areas near the mountains in the south should remain vigilant for potential localized highs of over 36 degrees. Cheng also reminded that from May 21-22, Kinmen and Matsu are likely to experience low clouds or localized fog, which will affect visibility. Cheng indicated that while a tropical disturbance is currently observed in the waters near the Ryukyu Islands, it is not expected to develop due to insufficient environmental moisture. Over the next week, cloud systems will form and dissipate in the waters southeast of the Philippines, but with no consensus among international models, it remains to be seen if a tropical system will develop. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150519