Warm weekend ahead before cooler, wetter weather from Monday

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Warm to slightly hot weather is forecast across Taiwan through the weekend, with daytime highs in the western half of the country approaching 30 degrees Celsius, before wetter and cooler conditions arrive from Lunar New Year's Eve on Monday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Thursday.

According to CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜), the warm conditions will persist through Sunday, with western Taiwan experiencing large day-night temperature differences, while rainfall during this period will mainly affect eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula in the south.

Late Thursday night into early Friday, temperatures in parts of Hsinchu, Miaoli and Nantou could still dip below 10 degrees Celsius due to radiative cooling, Lin said.

A frontal system is forecast to pass over Taiwan on Monday, followed by strengthening northeasterly winds that will bring increased moisture and a gradual drop in temperature, particularly in northern Taiwan, Lin added.

The northeasterly wind system is expected to influence Taiwan through next Thursday.

Wetter conditions are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, including the first day of the Lunar New Year, with intermittent rain likely in areas north of Taoyuan as well as in Yilan and Hualien. Sporadic showers may also occur in Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula and mountainous areas of Hsinchu and Miaoli.

Rainfall is expected to ease from Wednesday through Thursday next week, with precipitation mainly limited to the Greater Taipei area, the north coast, eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula, Lin said.

Temperatures will begin to fall on Monday, with the sharpest drop in the north. Daytime highs in northern Taiwan are expected to reach around 20 degrees on Tuesday, compared with about 24-27 degrees in central and southern parts of the island. Overnight lows are forecast at around 14-15 degrees in the north and 15-17 degrees elsewhere.

The northeasterly wind system is forecast to weaken on Feb. 20, with relatively stable weather conditions expected through Feb. 22, according to Lin.