Cold snap grips Taiwan, snow possible on high peaks

Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Wednesday issued low-temperature alerts for 10 cities and counties across Taiwan amid a strong continental cold air mass that will grip much of Taiwan through Friday.

The CWA issued an orange low-temperature alert for areas north of Hsinchu, including New Taipei, Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu County, indicating that they could see sustained temperatures of around 10 degrees Celsius or lower.

A yellow alert was issued for Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin and Chiayi counties and the outlying Kinmen County, indicating that temperatures in low-lying areas could dip below 10 degrees.

According to the CWA, the lowest temperature recorded in low-lying areas of Taiwan (excluding its outlying counties) early Wednesday was 8.9 degrees Celsius in Gukeng Township in Yunlin County, followed by 9.2 degrees in Shimen District in New Taipei.

The CWA also issued a heavy rain advisory, saying localized heavy rainfall is likely along the Keelung coast and in mountainous parts of Taipei and New Taipei from Wednesday morning through the evening due to prevailing northeasterly winds.

The agency warned of strong northeasterly winds from Wednesday morning through Thursday in parts of western, southern and eastern Taiwan, with sustained winds of 41-51 kilometers per hour or gusts of up to 63-75 kph.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-rong (吳德榮), an adjunct associate professor at National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, said the latest European model simulations show cold air will dominate weather conditions from Wednesday through Friday.

Northern Taiwan will remain cold and damp on Wednesday and Thursday, with occasional rain, while snowfall is possible in mountainous areas above 2,000 meters, Wu said.

Conditions in northern Taiwan are expected to turn mostly cloudy starting Friday, while eastern Taiwan may still see sporadic showers, Wu said.

Central and southern Taiwan will be partly cloudy to sunny through Friday, with cool daytime temperatures and cold mornings and evenings, Wu said, adding that the lowest temperatures in low-lying areas could drop to around 8 degrees.

Looking ahead, Wu said models indicate generally stable weather from Saturday to next Tuesday, with temperatures gradually rising.

Weaker northeasterly winds will then move south from Jan. 27 to 30, bringing cooler temperatures and rain to northern and eastern Taiwan, according to Wu.