Cold surge to send mercury down below 20 degrees across Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) A strong continental cold air mass will send temperatures plummeting to 14-16 degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan and 17-19 degrees in southern and eastern Taiwan on Tuesday night and Wednesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) has forecast.

Most of Taiwan will be cloudy during the day, the CWA predicted, but northern and eastern parts of the island, as well as the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung County, can expect sporadic showers later Tuesday.

Another cold surge is expected to arrive Thursday and send temperatures even lower, to lows of 10 degrees in the northern and central parts of the island and 13 degrees in the south and east, the CWA said.

The cool and moist weather patterns are expected to ease slightly on Saturday, the CWA predicted.

Meanwhile, a strong wind advisory was issued Tuesday, with open coastal regions from Taoyuan to Tainan and outlying Orchid Island, Green Island, Matsu, Kinmen and Penghu forecast to see winds up to 63 kilometers per hour, the CWA said.