Cold weather predicted for Lunar New Year

Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) Most of Taiwan will face cold weather at the beginning of the Lunar New Year holiday next week as a strong cold air mass arrives in Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast Wednesday.

The CWA said temperatures will turn colder on Jan. 27 and remain low through Jan. 29, with daytime highs in northern Taiwan falling to 13-15 degrees Celsius and lows dipping to 9 degrees, the CWA forecast.

Daytime highs elsewhere during that period in Taiwan will hit 17-19 degrees in central Taiwan, 15-18 degrees in eastern Taiwan, and 20-22 degrees in southern Taiwan, while lows will reach 12-13 degrees, the CWA said.

Localized showers may also occur in the north and east and in mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said.

The CWA predicted that the cold will start to relent on Jan. 30, though it will remain chilly early in the morning and at night.

Prior to then, the CWA forecast warm days and chilly nights across Taiwan from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, with highs expected to reach 21-24 degrees Celsius, and lows dropping to 13-15 degrees in northern and central Taiwan and 16-18 degrees in the south and east.

On Friday, seasonal northeasterly winds are expected to strengthen and bring moisture to the island. Northern and eastern Taiwan, as well as mountainous regions in central and southern Taiwan, may see sporadic showers, while other areas will be cloudy, the CWA said.

The CWA also said snow may be seen on mountains in northern and central Taiwan that are higher than 3,000 meters on Thursday and Jan. 27-28.