Cold front triggers low-temperature alerts Thursday across Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Thursday issued low-temperature alerts for 16 counties and cities across Taiwan, saying the cold conditions are expected to persist into Friday due to a strong continental cold air mass.

Central, northern, and eastern Taiwan will be more heavily impacted by the cold front, while other areas will experience cold mornings and evenings and cool daytime temperatures, the CWA said.

In the low-temperature alerts for Yilan County, Kinmen County, New Taipei, Keelung City, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County, the CWA warned of sustained temperatures of around 10 degrees Celsius.

The Matsu Islands, which make up Lienchiang County, could see sustained temperatures of around 6 degrees or lower, while in Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung cities, as well as Nantou, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties, the mercury is expected to fall below 10 degrees, the CWA said.

According to the CWA's website, the lowest temperature recorded in a low-lying area early Thursday morning was 8.3 degrees in Yunlin County's Gukeng Township, while a low of 8.6 degrees was recorded in Kaohsiung City's Neimen District.

Meanwhile, coastal areas in northern Taiwan, including Keelung City and mountainous areas of Greater Taipei, are likely to see rain on Thursday, with chances of heavy showers, the CWA said.

Rain is also expected in areas north of Taoyuan and parts of eastern Taiwan, while sporadic brief showers may fall in the Hsinchu to Miaoli region, central and southern Taiwan, and on the Hengchun Peninsula, according to the CWA.

Other parts of Taiwan and its outlying islands, including Penghu County, Kinmen County and the Matsu Islands, are forecast to be cloudy, the CWA said.

On Friday, temperatures are expected to start rising gradually as the cold front begins to weaken, but due to radiative cooling, mornings and evenings will remain cold, resulting in large day-night temperature differences, particularly in central and southern Taiwan, the CWA forecast.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said northern Taiwan will feel particularly cold on Thursday because damp conditions are expected to persist throughout the day.

The weather in Taiwan is expected to turn sunny and stable from Saturday through Tuesday as the continental cold air mass weakens, with temperatures rising day by day, but large day-night temperature differences will continue, he said.