Taipei braces for cold wave, snow in high mountains forecast

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Meteorologist Chia Hsin-hsing announced on Facebook Wednesday (Dec. 20) that a cold front is expected to bring lower temperatures than previously forecasted, with possible snowfall in high mountain areas.

Chia estimated that the cold air mass would cause temperatures in Taipei to drop to about 9.5 degrees Celsius from Thursday night to early Friday morning, meeting the standard for a cold wave. Temperatures could fall below 8 degrees Celsius in open areas north of Miaoli County and in the Huadong Valley.

Chia also predicted that from Wednesday through next Monday, weather conditions in areas north of Hsinchu and in Yilan would be damp and cold throughout the day. He cautioned the public about electrical safety and advised ensuring ventilation when using water heaters.

Regarding the likelihood of snow, Chia forecasts that from late Thursday night to early Friday morning, Taipingshan, Lala Mountain, and Shei-Pa National Park may experience snowfall, while Yangmingshan has a slight chance of sleet or rain mixed with snow.

Furthermore, late Saturday night to early Sunday morning, mountains over 3,000 meters above sea level in areas north of Taoyuan and at the border of Yilan and Hualien counties are also expected to experience snowfall.