The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued heat, heavy rain and strong wind alerts for parts of Taiwan, while a meteorologist said unstable weather is likely to bring severe conditions beginning this weekend.

The weather agency issued orange heat alerts for Taipei, New Taipei City, and Changhua and Taitung counties, where daytime highs today could reach 38°C or exceed 36°C for three consecutive days.

Yellow heat alerts were also issued for Keelung, and Yilan and Hualien counties, where temperatures are expected to top 36°C.

Photo: Taipei Times file photo

Meanwhile, the CWA this morning issued a heavy rain advisory for Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) in southern Taiwan, saying that southwesterly winds could bring short downpours, localized heavy rain, lightning and gusts of strong wind.

The agency also issued a strong wind advisory for Green Island (綠島), Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼), New Taipei City, Lienchiang County (Matsu), Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County, where sustained winds of 41kph to 51kph (Beaufort force 6) and gusts of 63kph to 75kph (force 8) are possible from tomorrow morning through tomorrow night due to intensifying southwesterly winds.

The southwesterly winds and abundant moisture from the South China Sea would keep the atmosphere unstable through Saturday, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said.

Southwestern Taiwan is expected to report scattered showers, while central and northern Taiwan could experience localized afternoon thunderstorms, Wu said.

Before rainfall develops, central, northern and parts of eastern Taiwan are expected to remain hot and sunny during the day, he said.

From Sunday through Saturday next week, the prevailing monsoon circulation is forecast to weaken and shift westward, leaving Taiwan under the influence of a broad low-pressure system, Wu said.

The weather is expected to remain unstable, with frequent localized showers and strong afternoon convection across Taiwan, he added.

Such convective systems are often accompanied by lightning, strong winds and intense short bursts of rainfall, he said, urging people to monitor short-term weather updates and official advisories.

Separately, Nangka, the season’s 17th tropical storm and the only active tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific, is expected to remain weak due to intense vertical wind shear as it moves toward waters east of Japan before turning northward, Wu said.

The storm is unlikely to affect Taiwan or make landfall in Japan, he added.