TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Air quality in Taiwan reached orange alert levels Wednesday (Nov. 26) due to the northeast monsoon carrying pollutants from abroad into the island, the Ministry of Environment (環境部) warned. The weather pattern particularly affects central and southern regions where pollutants tend to accumulate more significantly. The ministry advised sensitive groups to limit strenuous outdoor activities in affected areas including northern Taiwan and multiple southern cities.
The ministry specifically advised sensitive groups to limit strenuous outdoor activities in northern Taiwan, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung counties and cities. Ministry monitoring stations showed the air quality index (AQI) in Taipei's Songshan District and New Taipei's Xinzhuang District hit 101 at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. The reading categorizes the air quality as orange alert level, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive populations.
Several monitoring stations, including Erlin (二林), Douliu (斗六), Tainan, Qiaotou (橋頭), Fengshan (鳳山), and Linyuan (林園), reported AQI levels exceeding 120 throughout the day. Matsu's monitoring station reached 128, the highest reading recorded Wednesday across all Taiwan monitoring locations. The ministry expects the northeast monsoon weather pattern to influence the region until Saturday (Nov. 29) or Sunday (Nov. 30).
Daytime temperatures will gradually rise through the weekend period, although mornings and evenings will remain cool across all affected areas in Taiwan. By Saturday, the western half of the island will experience significant temperature differences between day and night with mostly cloudy to sunny weather conditions. Only the eastern regions and Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) will see isolated short-term rainfall and showers.