Taipei: A tropical depression that is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm could prompt the issuing of a sea warning for Taiwan as early as Thursday night, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) has said. According to Focus Taiwan, the system is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm late Thursday night or early Friday, at which point it will be named Noul, the 12th named storm of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, the tropical depression was centered about 1,110 kilometers southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 29 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 54 kph, CWA data showed. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng stated that the system is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan during the daytime on Saturday, as it passes closest to the island. Eastern Taiwan is predicted to experience heavy to torrential rain on Saturday, while rainfall in southern Taiwan is forecast to intensify later in the day. Unsettle d weather is expected to persist from Sunday through Wednesday due to southerly winds bringing abundant moisture across Taiwan. Before the system arrives, warm weather will dominate across the island on Thursday and Friday, with daytime highs ranging from 32-35 degrees Celsius. Temperatures could exceed 36 degrees in parts of the Greater Taipei area, the East Rift Valley, and mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan. Central and northern Taiwan could see highs above 37 degrees on Friday and Saturday because of foehn winds - warm, dry downslope winds that develop on the leeward side of mountain ranges. Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong noted on Thursday that sunny, hot weather would continue through Friday due to a decrease in atmospheric moisture. However, rainfall is expected to increase in eastern Taiwan beginning Friday night as the developing tropical system approaches. The rain will gradually spread into southern Taiwan over the weekend, while northern Taiwan is anticipated to ex perience relatively limited impacts.