Taiwan braces for unstable weather, hot Dragon Boat Festival holiday

Taiwan is bracing for continued unstable weather as the southwest monsoon persists, bringing localized short-term showers and thunderstorms, especially to central and southern areas. The afternoon hours are predicted to see vigorous convective development, with a risk of heavy downpours in northern regions and the Yilan and Hualien mountainous areas. Residents are urged to be cautious of lightning strikes and strong gusts within these storm zones.

Looking ahead to the Dragon Boat Festival holiday starting Friday and the subsequent week, the weather is forecast to become hot, akin to midsummer, as a Pacific high-pressure system strengthens. However, a final cold front associated with the plum rain season is expected to approach around next Thursday and Friday, though its specific impact remains uncertain and requires further observation.

Meteorological expert Lin De-en noted on his Facebook page, "Teacher Lin's Weather Station," that recent afternoon thunderstorms caused flooding in low-lying areas of Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung. He reiterated that the current unstable atmospheric conditions, influenced by the southwest monsoon, mean central and southern Taiwan will continue to see localized showers and thunderstorms. Other regions will experience cloudy skies, with a high probability of intense afternoon thunderstorms, particularly in central-northern Taiwan and the Yilan-Hualien mountains, where heavy rain is possible.

Temperatures across Taiwan are expected to range from lows of 24-26 degrees Celsius at night and in the early morning to daytime highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius. The offshore islands of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu may experience more rain, with temperatures between 25-29 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, associate professor Wu Der-rong from National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences advised that while the monsoon will weaken by tomorrow, afternoon thunderstorms are still possible. He also mentioned potential tropical disturbances developing east of the Philippines around the weekend, but current models suggest they will curve northeastward away from Taiwan.