Heat Alerts Issued for 12 Counties/Cities; Wu Derong Warns of Heavy Rain from May 5-12

(Central News Agency, reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, June 3) The Central Weather Administration today issued heat alerts for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, areas south of Changhua, and Hualien and Taitung counties, with Tainan City under an orange alert for extreme high temperatures of 38°C. Meteorologist Wu Derong stated that while today and tomorrow will be sunny and hot, from May 5 to 12, Taiwan will enter an active Mei-Yu (plum rain) season, requiring precautions against disastrous rainfall.

The Central Weather Administration issued the heat advisory, noting that Tainan City is under an orange alert with a chance of extreme highs of 38°C. Chiayi County and Kaohsiung City are also under orange alerts for consecutive highs of 36°C.

Yellow alerts were issued for Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Pingtung County, Hualien County, and Taitung County, warning of temperatures above 36°C.

Wu Derong, an adjunct associate professor at National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, wrote in a column for the Weather Application Promotion Foundation that Typhoon Jangmi, the 6th of the season, is weakening and moving northeast. Its storm circle will sweep over southern Honshu, Japan, during the day and move away from Japan by night.

Wu pointed out that the latest European model simulations show the southwest monsoon entering the South China Sea today and tomorrow. Taiwan will be sunny and hot during the day, requiring sun and heatstroke precautions. The atmosphere will become increasingly unstable, with occasional local afternoon showers in mountainous areas. Tomorrow, afternoon convection in the mountains will be stronger, with showers extending to some lowland areas.

Wu indicated that from May 5 to 12, the 5th Mei-Yu front of the season, combined with the southwest monsoon, will gradually form a typical active Mei-Yu pattern. The atmosphere will be very unstable, prone to triggering mesoscale convective systems, which can bring severe weather including lightning, strong winds, and torrential rain, leading to potential disasters.

From May 5 to 7, local showers or thunderstorms are likely across Taiwan, with strong convection mostly developing in the afternoon. On May 5, strong convection may also develop in southern Taiwan at any time. From May 8 to 12, strong convection will not be limited to the afternoon, and accumulated rainfall will be greater, requiring special attention across the island.

Wu added that the closer to the end of the forecast period, the greater the model uncertainty. Different global models disagree on how long the rainy pattern will last, so continued observation is necessary. (Editor: Wu Su-rou) 1150603