Snow likely on high mountains over next 2 days as cold air mass arrives: CWA

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) With a cold air mass approaching, snow is likely to fall on mountains with an elevation of 3,000 meters or higher around Taiwan from Thursday to Friday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Speaking with CNA, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said on Wednesday that the cold air mass is expected to send temperatures sharply lower on Thursday -- Christmas day -- and early Friday morning.

As a result, mountains of 3,000 meters or higher around Taiwan and 2,000 meters or higher in the north and Yilan County in the northeast could see snowfall, Tseng said.

In low-lying areas around Taiwan, the mercury is expected to fall to 13-15 degrees Celsius and as low as 10 degrees in certain areas from Thursday to Friday, he added.

Temperature highs during the two days will hit 20 degrees in the north and 22-25 degrees in the south, Tseng said.

With the upcoming cold air mass along with a seasonal northeasterly wind system, Taoyuan City and areas north of the city, and Yilan could see heavier precipitation during the two days, while sporadic rain is possible elsewhere in the county.

The strength of the cold air mass is expected to weaken from Saturday to Sunday with the moisture in the air likely to fall, Tseng added.

Weather conditions on Monday are likely to stabilize with cloudy to sunny skies around Taiwan, before another round of seasonal winds sets in on Tuesday and strengthens on Wednesday (Dec. 31), bringing brief rain to the north, the east and the Hengchun Peninsula in the south, he said.