TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Two waves of Northeast Monsoon are forecasted to affect Taiwan in the coming week, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Saturday (Jan. 6).
Early Saturday morning, temperatures in the western half and in Yilan stayed between 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, while other regions noted lows around 16 and 17 degrees. Daytime highs were expected to reach 22 to 25 degrees.
The first blast of the monsoon is set to intensify Saturday evening, primarily affecting the northern and northeastern regions, leading to decreasing temperatures and possible brief, isolated showers.
While the monsoon is anticipated to weaken on Tuesday and Wednesday, an increase in rainfall across most regions, except for the south, is expected due to influence from South China's rainfall zone.
The second wave of the Northeast Monsoon is slated to hit next Friday (Jan. 12), and is likely to augment chilliness and chances of rainfall in the north and Yilan as it intensifies during the night. Night-time and morning fog or low clouds may reduce visibility in the western half.
The Ministry of Environment's air quality forecast indicates that the Northeast Monsoon might exacerbate the air quality in the central and southern regions due to foreign influences.
Currently, the air quality in Yilan and Hualien is rated as "good", whereas Taipei, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Matsu, and Penghu regions have a "fair" level.
The central region, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, and Jinmen, are under an "orange alert" for air quality.