Cold weather expected in run-up to, after Lunar New Year holiday

Taipei, Jan. 24 (CNA) Cold weather in the run-up to Lunar New Year's Day on Wednesday is expected, followed by another cold air mass arriving next Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast on Friday.

A cold surge is expected in Taiwan starting Sunday night until Wednesday. Lows will dip to 8 degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan, 9-11 degrees in central Taiwan, and 12-14 degrees in southern and eastern Taiwan, according to CWA data.

The data showed that daytime highs will hover at 13-16 degrees in the north, 16-20 degrees in central Taiwan and above 20 degrees in the south.

Northern, eastern and mountainous regions in central and southern Taiwan could see sporadic showers, while the rest of the island will be cloudy, the CWA said.

Cloudy to sunny skies will be seen across Taiwan on Lunar New Year's Day in the daytime until the weekend. Sporadic showers are expected in the eastern half of Taiwan.

The CWA said daytime highs will reach 20 degrees across the country but will drop significantly at night.

With the arrival of a cold air mass next Saturday, chilly weather is forecast across the north of Taiwan in the day and the rest of the country at nighttime.

Central and southern Taiwan will see a few cloudy and sunny days this weekend. The north, east and mountainous regions are forecast to experience sporadic showers and potentially heavy rain.

Temperatures in the northern half of the country will drop to 12-14 degrees, while a range of 15 to 26 degrees is expected in southwestern Taiwan, the CWA forecast.