TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Residents of Taiwan are preparing for a colder New Year's Eve as a northeast monsoon brings cooler temperatures and potential heavy rain to the northern and northeastern regions. The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) issued a strong wind advisory at 4:31 a.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 31), urging caution in 16 counties, including New Taipei City and Taoyuan City, due to possible gusts exceeding 8 on the Beaufort scale.
Meteorologist Wu Te-jung (吳德榮) noted that radiative cooling remains strong in central and southern Taiwan. Tainan's Nansi District (楠西區) recorded the lowest temperature at 11.5 degrees Celsius. As New Year's Eve unfolds, the northern and eastern parts of the island anticipate increased cloud cover and sporadic showers, particularly along the Keelung northern coast and the Greater Taipei mountain areas. New Year's Eve event attendees should bring rain gear, while the central and southern regions enjoy clearer skies.
A powerful continental cold air mass will descend on Thursday (Jan. 1), potentially dropping temperatures in the north below 10 degrees Celsius. Forecasts predict that New Year's Day temperatures will range from 14 degrees Celsius in the north and Yilan to 16-19 degrees in the south, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu (澎湖). Kinmen (金門) and Matsu (馬祖) may see lows of 12 and 10 degrees, respectively.
Nighttime temperatures across Taiwan will begin to drop on Wednesday (Dec. 31), with the first wave of the cold air mass arriving early on Thursday (Jan. 1). Wu Te-jung explained that the cold air mass is stronger than the previous one, lowering the snow line to approximately 1,500 meters. However, due to insufficient moisture at higher altitudes, only Taiping (太平), Hehuan (合歡), and Xueshan (雪山) mountains might see light snow.