Miaoli records lowest ground temperature of 7.5°C Thursday: CWA

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) The mercury in Miaoli County dipped to 7.5 degrees Celsius early Thursday, the lowest ground temperature recorded in Taiwan so far for the day, as a continental cold air mass blanketed the country, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The low of 7.5 degrees was recorded in the northern county's Dahe Township, while New Taipei's Shiding and Wugu districts registered lows of 7.8 and 8.8 degrees, respectively, CWA data showed.

Early morning ground temperatures in western and northeastern regions of Taiwan averaged 11-13 degrees Thursday, with the mercury dropping below 10 degrees in some areas.

The CWA has forecast daytime highs of 15-17 degrees in northern, northeastern and eastern parts of Taiwan and 19-22 degrees in other regions, while temperatures on the outlying islands are expected to hover between 8 and 15 degrees on Thursday.

The cold weather will continue through Friday in northern and northeastern regions of the country, the CWA said, warning of low temperatures at night and in the early hours of the morning around the country.

As of Thursday noon, the CWA had issued an "orange" cold surge advisory, warning that temperatures may remain around 10 degrees in New Taipei's Shuangxi, Pinglin, Pingxi and Shiding districts.

According to the CWA forecast, the current cold air mass will gradually wane on Saturday, but low early morning temperatures can be expected nationwide over the next few days.

Meanwhile, sunny to cloudy skies will prevail Thursday in most parts of the country, except for the Keelung north coast, mountainous areas in the Greater Taipei area, and in the east, where occasional showers are likely, the CWA said.