TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A strong continental cold air mass gripped Taiwan on Monday (Feb. 9), bringing clear and stable weather to the western half of the island, while the eastern half experienced more clouds and occasional brief showers.
Daytime temperatures have slightly risen but remain cold, with nighttime radiation cooling potentially driving temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius in some lowland areas. Authorities urge residents to keep warm, ensure proper ventilation for gas water heaters to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and advise the agriculture and fishery sectors to guard against cold damage.
The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) reported that the cold wave hit hardest this morning, with temperatures plummeting across the island. Forecasts predict lows of 8 to 12 degrees in western Taiwan and Yilan, and 12 to 13 degrees in Hualien and Taitung. Most counties and cities, except Penghu, face a likelihood of temperatures hovering around or below 10 degrees, especially in coastal, open, or near-mountain areas.
Lin Te-en (林得恩), on his Facebook page "Teacher Lin Weather Station" (林老師氣象站), noted that according to the Central Weather Administration's ensemble model, the cold wave will gradually weaken and move away from Taiwan throughout the day. However, temperatures will remain low, transitioning the weather pattern from wet and cold to dry and cold.
As temperatures rise on Tuesday (Feb. 10), mornings and evenings will remain chilly, with significant temperature differences between day and night in central and southern regions. Mostly cloudy to clear skies will prevail, with only the eastern areas and Hengchun Peninsula experiencing occasional brief rain.
The weather will stabilize and warm up like spring from Friday to Lunar New Year's Eve (Feb. 13-15), though significant day-night temperature differences will persist due to radiation cooling, necessitating continued caution in staying warm.