Seasonal winds to keep Taiwan cool but moisture declines: CWA

Taipei, Oct. 6 (CNA) Ongoing seasonal northeasterly winds are expected to continue to keep northern and eastern Taiwan cool on Tuesday, while the rainfall seen in recent days is expected to ease, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The CWA said temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan and Hualien counties in the east could reach highs of 26-29 degrees Celsius Tuesday before falling to 22-24 degrees at night.

In central and southern Taiwan, which has not been as affected by the seasonal winds, daytime temperatures could reach 30-34 degrees Tuesday before falling to 23-26 degrees at night, the CWA said.

Due to the seasonal winds, temperatures Tuesday in low-lying areas of Taiwan fell to lows of 19.2 degrees Celsius in Shimen District in New Taipei, 19.7 degrees in Taoyuan's Yangmei District, and 19.8 degrees in Taipei's Nangang District, according to CWA data.

The CWA said a similar weather pattern is expected to continue until early Thursday morning, when the current seasonal winds are forecast to weaken, while drier weather is expected as moisture levels decline.

As the seasonal winds weaken, daytime temperatures around Taiwan are expected to reach 28-34 degrees Thursday before falling to 22-26 degrees at night, the CWA said.

The CWA said, however, that temperatures could fall to around 20 degrees in low-lying areas near mountains due to possible radiative cooling -- the cooling of the ground under clear skies, light winds and dry conditions -- from Wednesday through Friday.

Citing the latest European weather forecasting model, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said radiative cooling could even push temperatures as low as 16 degrees during that period.

With moisture expected to increase from Saturday, when the Republic of China's National Day holiday is celebrated, sporadic showers could occur on windward sides in the Greater Taipei area and in eastern Taiwan.

The increased moisture could cause temperatures to fall slightly in northern Taiwan on Saturday, while warm and stable weather is expected to continue in central and southern Taiwan, he said.