TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Weather Administration predicts that a continental cold air mass will arrive in Taiwan on Lunar New Year's Eve, possibly bringing the temperature down to 9 C in north Taiwan.
The CWA predicts that from Thursday to Sunday, daytime highs in Taiwan proper will exceed 20 C. On Friday, as the northeast monsoon strengthens, increased moisture will bring localized showers to the north, east, and central and southern mountainous regions, while other areas will see more cloud cover.
On Saturday and Sunday, Keelung’s northern coast, the northeast, and mountainous areas of Taipei will experience extended periods of rain, with occasional heavy rainfall. The north, east, and central-southern mountainous regions will have intermittent rain, while the plains in central and southern Taiwan will be mostly cloudy.
However, the CWA predicts that on Monday, the arrival of a strong continental cold air mass will cause a noticeable drop in temperatures across the country, with rain likely in the north, east, and central-southern mountainous areas. On Tuesday, Lunar New Year's Eve, the weather will be cold nationwide.
The weather will turn dry, with sunshine across the country. Low temperatures in the north are expected to dip to 9 C, while lows in other regions will be around 12–14 C.
On Wednesday (Jan. 29), the first day of the Lunar New Year, the north and northeast will remain cold, while other areas will experience chilly mornings and evenings with significant temperature differences between day and night.
On Jan. 30, the second day of the Lunar New Year, the cold air mass will weaken, and temperatures will gradually rise across the country, although mornings and evenings will still be chilly. On Jan. 31, the third day of the Lunar New Year, the warming trend will continue, with cooler conditions in the morning and evening.
The CWA said that temperatures in high mountain areas have been particularly low in recent days, leading to the possibility of icy or frosty road surfaces, which may be slippery. In addition, there is a chance of sporadic snowfall above 3,000 meters in central and northern Taiwan on Thursday, as well as on Lunar New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year’s Day.