Taipei: A tropical depression located northeast of the Philippines strengthened into a tropical storm at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The CWA said the storm, named Francisco, is heading toward waters south of Okinawa.

According to Focus Taiwan, as of 8 a.m., the eye of the storm was located 980 kilometers east of Cape Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, moving north-northwest at 20 km per hour. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts reaching 90 kph. The CWA noted that the tropical storm was currently relatively small but needed monitoring to see how it develops before deciding on whether to issue a sea warning.

The CWA expects the storm to get closest to Taiwan on Thursday and Friday, potentially bringing heavier rain to the northern and eastern parts of the country. Echoing the CWA, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong stated that Francisco will move over waters east of Taiwan before veering north of Taiwan. He described the storm as having a loose structure and not being very strong.

Meanwhile, in terms of the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, the CWA reported that scorching heat will continue. A yellow heat advisory has been issued for Hsinchu and Miaoli counties in the north and Tainan in the south, indicating daily maximum temperatures that could reach or exceed 36 degrees Celsius. These warnings were to remain in effect at least into late Wednesday afternoon.

Daytime temperatures will largely range between 31 and 35 degrees around Taiwan as cloudy to sunny skies prevail. However, localized brief showers or even thundershowers are possible in mountainous areas, as well as low-lying areas in Chiayi County and regions south of the county in the afternoon, according to the CWA.

The air quality across most of Taiwan was reported to be fair to good on Wednesday, as stated by the Ministry of Environment.