Taipei: Heavier rain is likely to send temperatures around Taiwan lower by 2-3 degrees Celsius as a strong low-pressure system and southwesterly winds bring more moisture to Taiwan on Wednesday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The CWA said daytime temperatures are forecast to fall to 31-33 degrees in the north, 32 degrees in central Taiwan, and 31 degrees in the south on Wednesday. However, temperatures in Taitung County valley areas and the outlying Matsu Islands could see highs hitting 35 degrees during the day.

According to Focus Taiwan, on Tuesday, Taitung recorded the day’s high of 38 degrees due to foehn winds, referring to a downslope wind pattern that is typically dry and warm. An extremely heavy rain advisory has taken effect in several regions including Hsinchu City, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in the north, Taichung City, Changhua and Yunlin counties in central Taiwan, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung cities, and Chiayi and Pingtung counties in the south, as well as the Matsu I
slands.

Extremely heavy rain advisories denote accumulated rainfall of over 200 millimeters within a day or more than 100 mm within a 3-hour period. A heavy rain advisory, indicating accumulated rainfall of 80 mm or more within 24 hours or 40 mm or more in an hour, has been issued for Keelung City and the northern coast, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan cities in the north, and Nantou County in central Taiwan.

Due to possible flash showers or thundershowers, the CWA has warned of flash flooding in areas such as Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, and Pingtung. Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong noted that the current low-pressure system, a result of the downgraded Typhoon Danas and its outer cloud band, combined with southwesterly winds, has led to unstable weather around Taiwan. This unstable weather is expected to continue into Friday with heavy thundershowers possible in the afternoons.

Wu also mentioned that cloudy to sunny skies would return on Saturday despite brief showers in the afternoon, with summer-like
scorching weather anticipated over the next few days. Meanwhile, air quality across most of Taiwan was fair to good on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Environment.