Mercury could fall below 10°C until Wednesday: CWA

Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) Temperatures in northern Taiwan, Taichung and Yilan and Hualien counties could tumble to 10 degrees Celsius or lower in early mornings until Wednesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast Sunday.

The CWA on Sunday issued warnings of low temperatures and strong winds because of cold air currents from the north and strengthening northeasterly winds.

Its orange "very cold" advisory for northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and Taichung indicated that temperatures could remain at around 10 degrees or lower through Monday in those areas.

It also issued a yellow "cold" weather advisory for Hualien County and the Kinmen Islands, indicating there is a chance of temperatures dropping below 10 degrees for brief periods from late Sunday to Monday in those areas.

According to the CWA, daytime highs in Taipei and Taichung on Monday will hit 13 and 14 degrees, respectively, while the nighttime lows are expected to be around 10 degrees, or as low as 7 degrees in Yilan and Miaoli counties.

The cold temperatures are forecast to remain overnight every day until Wednesday, the CWA said.

The CWA also issued warnings of sustained strong winds and gale force gusts until Tuesday morning along the coast of Taiwan and in open areas.

The warning also covers Green Island, Orchid Island, the Kinmen Islands and Liuqiu Island.

Sporadic showers are expected in the areas covered by the cold surge advisory and in the mountainous areas across Taiwan, with chances of heavy rainfall in Keelung, coastal areas in New Taipei, mountainous regions in northern Taiwan, according to the CWA.