Cold front to hit Taiwan Saturday, with chance of snowfall

Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) A cold front is expected to affect Taiwan from Saturday, bringing a chance of snowfall in northern mountainous areas above 1,000 meters over the weekend, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said the cold air mass will lower temperatures nationwide, with daytime highs forecast at 16-17 degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan and Yilan County in the northeast, 20-23 degrees in central and eastern areas, and around 27 degrees in the south.

The CWA has issued an "orange" cold surge advisory for several cities and counties, including Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan and Yilan, warning of sustained temperatures around or below 10 degrees and possibly dropping below 6 degrees in parts of those areas. The advisory is effective through Sunday night.

Meanwhile, rainfall is expected in coastal areas of Keelung, Yilan and in mountainous areas of Greater Taipei on Saturday, with localized heavy showers in some parts.

Cheng said the cold front is forecast to have its strongest impact in the early mornings of Sunday and Monday, with lows of 9-12 degrees in the western half of Taiwan and Yilan, and 11-14 degrees in Hualien and Taitung counties in the east.

There is a chance of snowfall between Saturday night and Sunday on mountains above 3,000 meters in southern Taiwan and Taitung, above 2,500 meters in Hsinchu, Miaoli, central Taiwan, and Hualien, and above 1,000 meters in areas north of Taoyuan and Yilan, he added.

The cold front is expected to ease slightly from Monday, with daytime highs rising to 16-17 degrees in northern Taiwan, and 20-22 degrees in central and southern areas, the forecaster said.

Temperatures are forecast to rise further on Tuesday as the cold air continues to weaken, Cheng said, while noting that another cold air system could arrive in Taiwan the following day, though its intensity remains uncertain and will require further observation.