Northeasterly winds to strengthen Tuesday, bringing rain, lows of 15°C

Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) Wet and cooler weather is set to return across Taiwan Tuesday as seasonal northeasterly winds strengthen, with temperatures in the north dropping to around 15 degrees Celsius, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

A cloud system moving east from southern China will combine with the northeasterly winds to bring rain and chilly conditions throughout the day, with temperatures falling further at night, CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) told CNA on Monday.

Lin said temperatures on Tuesday are expected to fall to around 15-16 degrees Celsius in northern and northeastern Taiwan, and 17-18 degrees in the south and east of the country, while sporadic snowfall is possible at elevations above 3,000 meters if conditions are favorable.

Moisture levels will ease during the daytime on Wednesday, leaving mostly cloudy skies or isolated showers in the western half of Taiwan, he said.

Over the next two days, the northeasterly winds are expected to weaken, with drier conditions nationwide and mostly cloudy to sunny weather during the day, he added, noting daytime highs of around 23 degrees in the north and 25-26 degrees elsewhere.

Another northeasterly wind system is forecast to strengthen on Saturday, and with a cloud system passing across Taiwan, northern and eastern areas could see isolated showers, while central and southern parts of areas are expected to be mostly cloudy to sunny.

The wet weather could expand to eastern and central mountain areas as northeasterly winds impact the country from Sunday through Feb. 3, before weakening on the following two days, Lin said.