Cold, wet weather likely to affect New Year's Eve fireworks: CWA

Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) Low clouds and moisture from the northeasterly monsoon may hamper the visibility of New Year's Eve fireworks in northern and eastern Taiwan, with cold, wet weather expected to last into New Year's Day in some areas, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Tuesday.

The northeasterly monsoon will bring cooler temperatures Wednesday evening, and increased moisture may lower cloud ceilings in northern and eastern Taiwan, potentially obstructing views of New Year's Eve fireworks, CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said.

Temperatures in lowland areas in northern Taiwan on Wednesday will hover around 14 degrees Celsius, dipping further in areas near the mountains, Lin said.

On Thursday, New Year's Day, a strong cold air mass will move south, potentially bringing heavy rain to coastal areas of Keelung and mountainous areas in Taipei and New Taipei, with scattered short-lived showers expected north of Taoyuan, in eastern Taiwan, and on the Hengchun Peninsula, according to the Lin.

Meanwhile, the Hsinchu-Miaoli region and central and southern mountains may see isolated brief showers, while other areas will be mostly cloudy, Lin added.

Cold and damp conditions across most of the country will continue on Friday before turning dry over the weekend, with isolated brief showers forecast for Keelung coastal areas, eastern Taiwan, and the Hengchun Peninsula, Lin said.

The incoming cold air mass is expected to bring temperatures as low as 6 to 10 degree Celsius in lowland areas north of central Taiwan, and 10 to 12 degree Celsius in mountainous areas south of Changhua County, he said.

If temperatures and moisture align, Lin said, snowfall is possible in mountains above 1,500 meters in northern and northeastern areas, as well as high mountains above 3,000 meters in central and southern Taiwan from Thursday evening to Friday morning.