Scorching Temperatures Sweep Across Taiwan: Heat Alerts Issued

Taipei's Shilin District Records Temperatures Above 37°C, Raising Concerns Across the Island

Taipei, Taiwan – Residents across Taiwan are advised to take precautions as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities on Sunday, warning of intense heat expected throughout the island.

The mercury soared, with the Shezi area in Taipei's Shilin District reaching 37.4 degrees Celsius by noon, making it the hottest spot in Taiwan according to CWA data. Miaoli County's Toufen Township also experienced high temperatures, recording 36.7 degrees Celsius.

Further south, Jinfeng Township in Taitung County matched the scorching 37.4 degrees Celsius recorded in Shilin, highlighting the widespread impact of the heatwave. The CWA issued yellow level information notices for several municipalities, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, among others.

A yellow information notice is triggered when the daily maximum temperature reaches 36 degrees Celsius. The CWA cautioned that these areas could see temperatures exceed this threshold throughout the day. The Taipei basin, the Hualien-Taitung Valley, mountainous regions, and river valleys in western Taiwan are also at risk of experiencing temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency also indicated that Taitung County might experience Foehn winds, known for their dry and warm conditions. The greater Taipei area, the northeast and eastern parts of Taiwan, and mountainous areas could see brief and localized thundershowers.

Looking ahead, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) forecasts sunny weather with potential cloudiness between Monday and Tuesday. Moisture will increase, leading to atmospheric instability and localized showers or thundershowers, potentially including heavy rain. The hot weather is expected to persist from Wednesday through the following Tuesday, with a chance of afternoon showers in mountainous areas that could spread to lower-lying regions.