Intensifying cold weather sweeps Taiwan

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Cold weather is intensifying all over Taiwan, with a significant increase in rainfall in the northern and eastern regions starting on Friday (Dec. 22) evening, and a chance of rain across the nation on Saturday.

According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), temperatures dipped below 10 degrees Celsius in areas north of Chiayi. The Yangmei District of Taoyuan City registered the lowest temperature at 6.7 degrees Celsius.

The CWA has issued a cold weather warning, predicting the chances of temperatures falling below 6 degrees in New Taipei City, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu.

The warning also covers Keelung, Taipei, Yilan County, and Kinmen County for sustained temperatures of around 10 degrees or lower and Lienchiang County for temperatures around 6 degrees or lower.

High-altitude areas above 3,000 meters, such as Mount Hehuan, Xueshan (also known as Snow Mountain), and Mount Nanhu, are affected by the cold front with temperatures remaining below freezing and a high chance of snowfall.

Weather experts predict that the cold air will slightly weaken from Saturday afternoon until Sunday.

Northern and eastern regions can expect brief local showers, and brief rainfalls are likely in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan. No severe cold fronts are expected to affect New Year's Eve.