Northern Taiwan could see temperatures dip to 12°C next week: CWA

Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) With another cold air mass approaching, temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to fall to as low as 12 degrees Celsius next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Saturday.

The CWA said cold air is expected to approach Taiwan on Tuesday and it is likely to strengthen from Wednesday to Thursday.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 18-19 degrees in the north on Tuesday before falling to 15-16 degrees Wednesday through Thursday.

Lows on Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to dip to 12-13 degrees, the CWA said.

In central and southern Taiwan, highs are forecast to range between 18-20 degrees Wednesday through Thursday before falling to 13-14 degrees at night, the CWA said.

Moisture in the air is expected to increase from Tuesday to Thursday, the CWA said, adding that heavier precipitation is possible on the windward sides of northern and eastern Taiwan.

Echoing the CWA, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said it was possible that mountains of 3,000 meters or higher, including Hehuanshan and Hsuehshan, will see snow, while those that are about 2,000 meters could have snow pellets or rime.

Wu said weather conditions could improve starting from next Saturday with cold air weakening, but active radiative cooling effects -- referring to the cooling of the ground under clear skies, light winds and dry conditions -- are expected to keep a daytime-nighttime temperature gap wide.