TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A powerful cold air mass will sweep across Taiwan, beginning Thursday (Jan. 9), bringing a significant drop in temperatures. The Central Weather Administration (CWA,氣象署) forecasted that from Friday to Sunday, northern, northeastern, and eastern regions will experience cold weather, while other areas will also feel the chill, especially in the mornings and evenings.
Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) warned that the cold air mass will cause temperatures to plummet to between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius. This chilly spell will persist until next Monday during the day. The cold front will also bring moisture, leading to intermittent showers in northern and eastern regions, as well as the Hengchun Peninsula and central mountainous areas, from Thursday to Saturday.
Strong gusts, ranging from 9 to 10 on the Beaufort scale, will affect coastal areas from Miaoli to Yunlin, the Hengchun Peninsula, Green Island, Orchid Island, and Matsu. The northeastern wind will remain strong, with coastal areas from Taoyuan to Yunlin and the Hengchun Peninsula experiencing gusty conditions.
The CWA predicted that temperatures might drop below 8 degrees Celsius early Thursday morning. The coldest period is expected from late Friday night to early Saturday morning, with temperatures in central and northern regions falling to 10-12 degrees and 12-14 degrees in other areas. Authorities urged residents to prepare for the cold snap and remain cautious of strong winds and high waves in adjacent sea areas.