Lunar New Year holiday ends with cool, wet weather: CWA

Taipei, Feb. 2 (CNA) The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday ended on Sunday with cool and wet conditions, with a strong cold air mass expected next week, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Showers are forecast across much of Taiwan on Sunday due to strengthening seasonal winds, with northern and eastern regions, as well as mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan, being the most affected, the CWA said.

Daytime highs in northern Taiwan and the outlying counties of Kinmen and Penghu could drop by about 4 degrees Celsius, hovering between 18 and 20 degrees, compared to the previous day, forecasters added.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) warned that a strong cold air mass arriving on Monday could push the minimum temperature in northern Taiwan down to 9 degrees.

By Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather is expected to shift from cold and damp to cold and dry, with temperatures in low-lying areas dropping to around 8 degrees, said Wu.

Wu also noted a chance of snowfall in high-altitude areas, adding that snow could fall on peaks above 2,000 meters, including Hehuanshan and Taipingshan, from Monday night to early Tuesday.

However, from Wednesday night onward, snowfall is only likely at altitudes above 3,000 meters, he said.