Yushan sees snow Wednesday; rainy weather expected for long weekend

Taipei, April 1 (CNA) Snow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest peak, at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday before stopping at around noon, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it also warned of rainy weather during the upcoming holiday weekend.

CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said temperatures were about 0.8 degrees Celsius as snow fell on the 3,952-meter mountain, but the snow tapered off as the humidity in the air dropped and temperatures rose.

More snowfall is unlikely over the next two days due to low humidity, but another weather front on Saturday could bring renewed chances of snow, depending on temperatures, Lin forecast.

In lower-lying areas, meanwhile, sporadic rain was forecast Wednesday in areas north of Tainan, with a chance of heavier rain between Hsinchu and Chiayi.

The rainy conditions will ease slightly on Thursday, though scattered showers are still expected, particularly in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan, according to the CWA.

Temperatures will turn slightly cooler in northern Taiwan from Wednesday to Thursday morning, with highs of 22-23 degrees Celsius and lows of 16-17 degrees, while ranging between 20 and 30 degrees in central and southern Taiwan during the same period, the CWA said.

The mercury should rebound from Thursday to Monday, with lows hovering around 19-20 degrees in the north and 21-22 degrees elsewhere and daytime highs reaching 25-28 degrees in the north, 29-33 degrees in central Taiwan and 30-33 degrees in the south, CWA data showed.

But as temperatures rebound, more rain can be expected during the four-day holiday from April 3 to April 6 for Children's Day and Tomb-Sweeping Day.

On Friday, the first day of the holiday, northern and southeastern Taiwan may see intermittent rain, while other regions will experience partly cloudy to sunny skies, with possible afternoon thundershowers.

From Saturday through Monday, rain is expected across much of the island, with a chance of heavy rainfall in northern Taiwan on Saturday.

The CWA cautioned that spring weather can be volatile and forecasts may change.