Taipei: Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued six heat alerts on Wednesday, warning that highs in New Taipei and Taoyuan could hit 38 degrees Celsius. A red alert was posted for New Taipei, Taiwan's most populous city, and Taoyuan, where highs may top 38 degrees for three straight days, the weather bureau stated.

According to Focus Taiwan, orange alerts were posted for Taipei and Chiayi County, with highs of 36 degrees Celsius or more forecast for at least three days. Taichung and Changhua County were placed under yellow alerts for temperatures above 36 degrees, the CWA said. The bureau also noted that ultraviolet radiation will peak at dangerous levels around midday, urging the public to stay hydrated and use sun protection, as highs elsewhere in Taiwan are forecast to range from 32 to 35 degrees.

Afternoon thunderstorms are forecast south of Taoyuan, with heavy rain possible in the mountains and lowlands through Taichung, the CWA reported. Eastern and southeastern areas, including Hualien, Taitung, and the Hengchun Peninsula, will experience scattered showers, with heavier rain expected in Taitung and Hengchun. Other regions will have partly cloudy to sunny skies, the bureau mentioned.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-rong stated that hot weather will persist nationwide through Saturday, with a high chance of afternoon thunderstorms. He added that a European forecast model shows a tropical disturbance entering the South China Sea on Wednesday, with a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm by Thursday or Friday. Meanwhile, moisture from the south is expected to move north from Sunday to Tuesday, bringing slightly cooler temperatures and scattered showers across Taiwan, Wu explained.