Taiwan to see warmer weather Thursday, turn cold, wet at weekend

Taipei, Feb. 19 (CNA) Average daytime high temperatures are forecast to hit 20 degrees Celsius or higher across Taiwan on Thursday, before seasonal northeasterly winds and a cold air mass bring cooler and wet weather from Friday to next Monday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Despite a cooler start of 13-17 degrees early Thursday, daytime highs are expected to climb to 23-25 in western Taiwan, and 21-22 degrees in the east, CNA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) told CNA Wednesday afternoon.

Low cloud and fog are expected to cause poor visibility from Taoyuan in the north and Tainan in southwestern Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, Lin said.

Nighttime temperatures on Thursday are expected to fall back into the teens, with snow forecast on mountains of 3,000 meters or higher in central and northern Taiwan, Lin said.

Sporadic snowfall could occur between late Thursday night and early Friday if the air blowing from the east and southeast of Taiwan carries enough moisture, Lin added.

A weather front is expected to move across Taiwan from the northwest on Friday, along with the strengthening seasonal northeasterly winds and a cold air mass, which will bring down temperatures to an overnight low of 11-13 degrees in northeastern and western Taiwan, and 14-15 degrees in Hualien and Taitung from late Sunday to early Monday, the CNA forecaster said.

In addition to the falling temperature, the CWA also warned of heavy rainfall in Keelung, along the northern coast of Taiwan, as well as mountainous areas in Greater Taipei and Yilan from Friday to Sunday.

The rain is expected to ease on Tuesday, while warm temperatures are forecast on Tuesday, the CNA forecaster said.