Cold surge prompts low-temperature alerts across northern Taiwan

Taipei, Feb. 7 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Saturday issued low-temperature alerts for 12 cities and counties in northern, eastern Taiwan and two outlying counties, warning residents to prepare for sharply colder conditions as a cold surge moves south.

The advisory covers New Taipei, Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Yilan County and outlying Kinmen County, where temperatures are expected to consistently hover around 10 degrees Celsius or lower between Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Hsinchu City, Taichung, Hualien County and outlying Lienchiang County are also expected to see lows below 10 degrees Celsius.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said the cold air will bring "even colder temperatures overnight," with lowland areas in northern Taiwan expected to fall to around 8 degrees, and Taipei station readings to hover near 11 degrees.

Wu said temperatures in lowland areas could even drop below 6 degrees on Sunday and Monday, marking Taiwan's second significant cold surge of the season after the one in early January.

He added that mountainous areas such as Taiping Mountain and central Taiwan's peaks may see snowfall from Sunday morning into the afternoon, while northern Taiwan's peaks like Datun and Qixing could experience frost or ice pellets.

The forecast shows that northern and eastern Taiwan will have localized rain on Saturday, with central regions seeing occasional brief showers, the CWA said.

It added that conditions are expected to clear gradually starting Sunday.