Snow falls on Taiwan's highest mountain

Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) Snow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest mountain, at around 6 a.m. Friday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

As of around 8 a.m., the CWA's Yushan Weather Station in Nantou County had recorded one centimeter of snow, with temperatures at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius and snowfall continuing.

By 10 a.m., temperatures at the station had risen slightly to minus 3.6 degrees, CWA data showed.

Cold conditions were forecasted to persist across Taiwan on Friday, with temperatures possibly falling below 6 degrees in parts of Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu County, the CWA said.

Some areas of Yilan County in northern Taiwan could also see sustained temperatures of 10 degrees or lower, according to the administration.

In most other regions, temperatures may briefly dip below 10 degrees, except in Taitung, Pingtung, and the offshore counties of Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu), CWA data showed.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said another wave of cold air will keep chilly conditions in place over the weekend.

From Monday morning through Thursday, sunny skies will prevail during the daytime as the cold air gradually weakens, he said.

However, he warned of large daytime-nighttime temperature swings, as enhanced radiative cooling, a process in which heat escapes from the ground into the atmosphere, will lead to low temperatures at night and in the early morning.