Taipei, Dec. 23 (CNA) A new wave of cold air is expected to move in from the north on Thursday and could strengthen into a continental cold air mass affecting Taiwan through Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Tuesday.
From Thursday to Saturday, the cold air system will create cold and wet weather conditions in areas north of central Taiwan and along the northeast coast, while other regions will also feel cooler at night and in the early morning.
The CWA defines a continental cold air mass as conditions in which temperatures at the Taipei weather station fall to 14 degrees Celsius or below.
During the period, northern Taiwan is likely to experience cold and damp conditions, while central and southern Taiwan will be mostly cloudy, with occasional light rain in mountainous areas, the agency said.
The CWA forecast lows of 13-15 degrees in northern Taiwan and Yilan, and 15-17 degrees in southern Taiwan and in Hualien and Taitung counties on Thursday and Friday.
Before then, the CWA said weakening northeasterly winds on Tuesday will allow temperatures to rebound across Taiwan under mostly cloudy to sunny skies.
Eastern Taiwan, the northern coast and the Hengchun Peninsula may see brief showers, while daytime highs in central and southern Taiwan could reach 27-28 degrees Celsius, compared with 24-26 degrees in the north and east.
Lows are forecast at 15-17 degrees in northern Taiwan and Yilan in the northeast, and 18-20 degrees in southern Taiwan and in Hualien and Taitung in the east.
The weather agency said the seasonal winds will strengthen slightly on Wednesday, lowering temperatures in northern and northeastern Taiwan and increasing moisture.
Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the latest model simulations suggest the cold air mass later this week could be slightly stronger than previously expected, with minimum temperatures in low-lying areas potentially dropping to around 10 degrees.
From Thursday to Saturday, the zero-degree line, or snow line, could descend to around 3,000 meters, and with sufficient moisture there could be isolated snowfall on high mountains such as Hehuanshan, Xueshan and Nanhu Mountain.
The CWA said conditions are expected to turn drier on Sunday, with temperatures edging up slightly, while Monday will be mostly sunny around Taiwan, aside from occasional showers in eastern Taiwan.
