Rain forecast across Taiwan as weather turns unstable Thursday

Taipei, March 13 (CNA) Showers and thunderstorm are expected across Taiwan on Thursday, due to a cloud system that is bringing unstable weather, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Sporadic heavy rain is likely in the western half of Taiwan, as well as in Keelung on the north coast, and Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, the CWA said.

The weather agency has issued a heavy rain advisory for the cities of Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Taichung as well as the counties of Hsinchu, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin and Penghu, warning of accumulated rainfall of over 80 millimeters in a 24-hour period or hourly rainfall exceeding 40 millimeters.

It has also warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas of northern Taiwan.

Meanwhile, daytime temperatures will hover around 25 degrees Celsius in the north on Thursday, and 27-30 degrees in the rest of the country, but the mercury will drop sharply at night, the CWA said.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the weather will turn cooler Saturday night with the arrival of a cold air system.

Lows of 12 degrees can be expected in Taipei on Sunday night, while some other low-lying areas in the north are likely to see temperatures of below 10 degrees, Wu said.

By next Monday, however, sunny to cloudy skies are expected to return nationwide and last for at least six days, he said.