TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) issued a cold weather alert Wednesday (Jan. 7) for 17 counties and cities, warning temperatures will likely drop below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F). The 6:27 a.m. advisory cited a strong continental cold air mass and radiative cooling as the cause, with cold conditions expected to persist through Thursday. The CWA warned Kinmen County, an offshore island near China, could see temperatures drop below 6 degrees Celsius (42.8°F).
New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, and Yilan County may experience temperatures around or below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F). Eleven additional areas — including Keelung City, Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City — also face sub-10-degree conditions.
Meteorologist Lin Der-en (林得恩) said on Facebook that cold weather will persist from Wednesday until Friday (Jan. 7-9) morning across northern and central Taiwan, including Yilan and Hualien, while other regions will see cold mornings and evenings. Lin forecast temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees Celsius (46.4°F to 53.6°F) for areas north of central Taiwan, plus Yilan, Kinmen, and Matsu. Southern Taiwan, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu will see 12 to 16 degrees Celsius (53.6°F to 60.8°F).
The cold air mass will begin weakening Saturday (Jan. 10), bringing slightly higher daytime temperatures across Taiwan, though mornings and evenings will remain chilly in most areas. By Sunday (Jan. 11), the cold air will diminish further, potentially reducing to the level of a strengthened northeast monsoon, according to forecasters. Residents are advised to dress warmly and monitor weather updates from the CWA. ◼