Mercury drops to 8.9 degrees Monday in Shiding: CWA

Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) A temperature of 8.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in the New Taipei district of Shiding early Monday, as a continental cold air mass blanketed northern Taiwan, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The drop to 8.9 degrees was the lowest temperature recorded in Taiwan proper Monday morning, followed by 10.2 degrees in Hsinchu County's Guanxi Township, and 10.7 degrees in Miaoli County's Gongguan Township, CWA data showed.

The weather was expected to remain cool and dry for the rest of the day, the CWA said, but it warned of steep drops in the mercury at night, particularly in central and southern parts of the country.

Daytime temperatures of around 19 to 20 degrees were forecast for northern areas, as well as for Yilan and Hualien counties in the east, while highs of between 22 and 24 degrees were expected in other regions, according to the CWA.

With the sharp drop of the mercury at night, lows of 13-14 degrees can be expected in the northern half of Taiwan, and 15 to 17 degrees in other areas, the CWA said.

In Taiwan's outlying islands, daytime temperatures will range between 15 and 18 degrees in Penghu County, 11 and 18 degrees in Kinmen County, and 10 and 13 degrees on the Matsu islands in Lienchiang County, the weather agency said.

Meanwhile, sunny to cloudy skies will prevail across Taiwan on Monday, with chances of sporadic rain in the eastern half of the country, the CWA said.

According to independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), atmospheric moisture will gradually increase Monday through to Wednesday, raising the chances of sporadic rain, not only in the east, but also in the Greater Taipei area.

Citing the latest European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model, Wu also said the current cold air mass will continue to affect Taiwan until Wednesday morning.

It will weaken Wednesday and Thursday, before another front arrives Friday, bringing cold and wet weather to Taiwan, he said.

Those conditions will prevail until next Monday, with the lowest temperatures expected Sunday night, Wu said.