TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan is expected to experience sunny to partly cloudy skies on Friday (Dec. 15), including its outlying areas of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The CWA reported that a front approaching in the evening will bring brief rain showers to the north, northeast, and Matsu. A continental polar air mass will start affecting the region the following day, resulting in lower temperatures and damp, cold weather persisting through Monday. Sunday is expected to be the coldest day.
Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu predicts that temperatures may drop further as a more substantial and long-lasting wave of cold air moves south starting Tuesday (Dec. 19). This strong continental cold air mass might even mark the season's first cold wave.
Starting on Saturday, brief showers are anticipated in the northern and eastern parts of Taiwan, including areas north of Taoyuan, while sporadic showers might occur in the central and southern mountainous regions and Penghu.
Between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, some metropolitan areas in northern Taiwan could see lows around 12 degrees Celsius, with coastal and flat regions possibly reaching around 10 degrees.
Rain is expected to pause from Monday daytime until Tuesday afternoon, with a slight increase in temperature. However, another wave of cold air from Tuesday evening to Friday (Dec. 22) will bring robust but slightly less intense conditions than the first wave.
Weather models suggest that this wave might reach the strength of a strong continental cold air mass, with the potential for an upgrade to a cold wave yet to be determined. The cold is anticipated to gradually weaken by next Saturday, Dec. 23.
