Daytime temperatures could surge to highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius nationwide Monday and Tuesday, ahead of an anticipated wet weekend, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
While overnight lows are expected to hover 24-28 degrees, the CWB forecast the mercury could climb to 36 degrees and bring about foehn wind in Hualien and Taitung counties, as hot and dry southwesterly winds sink in southeastern Taiwan after crossing the Central Mountain Range.
Given that the front affecting Taiwan is moving toward the north, rainfall will gradually decrease from Monday evening, according to the CWB.
With heat advisories issued for Taipei, New Taipei, as well as for Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung counties Monday, the temperature in Shiding District in New Taipei surged to 38.1 degrees around noon, while Taima and Jinfeng townships in Taitung County also saw the mercury soar above 36 degrees, CWB data showed.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the weather will be unstable and downpours are likely throughout Taiwan as a front from the north approaches the island, the CWB projected.
From Friday to Sunday, meanwhile, the front will move away, leaving Taiwan under the influence of southerly winds, with brief showers or thundershowers in parts of the central, southern, and southeastern areas, the CWB added.
Wu Der-rong (???), a meteorologist and adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University, said northern and eastern Taiwan should expect hot weather Monday and Tuesday, with foehn wind in Hualien and Taitung counties.
He said a southbound stationary front will approach Taiwan on Wednesday and skirt its northern perimeter, with occasional showers or thundershowers expected across the country, accompanied by lightning, gusts, and sudden strong downpours.
According to Wu, weather across Taiwan will be unstable, wet, and muggy, with strong precipitation in the afternoon from Thursday to Saturday as the stationary front moves northward.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel