TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued an "orange" signal cold surge advisory for Keelung City and New Taipei City on Thursday (March 7). The alert signals a likelihood of continuous temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or lower.
In the early morning, temperatures in Northern Taiwan were expected to be around 12 to 14 degrees, reaching only 14 to 16 degrees during the day. The rest of the country saw lows of 15 to 18 degrees, with daytime highs ranging from 18 to 22 degrees. Kaohsiung and Pingtung were warmer, with highs around 23 to 24 degrees.
The CWA indicated that due to the impact of a strong continental cold air mass and the eastward shift of rain and cloudiness over southern China, weather across Taiwan turned wet and cold with isolated, brief showers. Residents were advised to carry umbrellas.
Former CWA Weather Forecast Center director Daniel Wu said the lowest temperature in the plains of northern Taiwan will drop to 10 degrees on Friday (March 8) and could continue to drop to below 9 degrees.
From Friday to the morning of Saturday (March 9), the weather across the country will improve. However, there will still be brief showers in Hualien and Taitung. Wu added that starting from the afternoon of Saturday, it will be cooler in the morning and evening, and there will be chances of isolated mail rain in the mountains on Sunday (March 10).
A quick-moving frontal system will pass through the following Monday (March 11), resulting in isolated rain across the country. As the front recedes on March 12 and 13, cooler mornings and evenings with large diurnal temperature variations can be expected.