TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A powerful cold air mass from mainland China is set to sweep across Taiwan beginning Sunday, potentially driving temperatures in northern regions down to a chilling 10 degrees Celsius, the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) announced Friday (March 14).
The approaching cold front will establish its grip over the island until March 20, bringing not only frigid temperatures but also unstable weather patterns. Meteorologists forecast significant precipitation across multiple regions as the weather system interacts with local conditions, creating a high probability of rainfall throughout the period.
Northern, northeastern, and eastern Taiwan should prepare for particularly heavy downpours over the next 48 hours as the front moves through. More dramatically, areas above 3,000 meters in central and northern Taiwan could see sporadic snowfall between March 16 and 17, prompting the weather authority to issue warnings about potentially dangerous icy road conditions in mountainous regions.
By Saturday, residents in northern Taiwan will feel the full impact of the cold front, with temperatures potentially dropping to as low as 10 degrees Celsius. Other regions won't escape the chill, with readings possibly falling below 15 degrees. Daily high temperatures will struggle to reach 18 degrees in the north, though other areas may experience slightly milder conditions with highs exceeding 20 degrees.
The combination of the cold air mass and radiative cooling—a phenomenon where Earth's surface rapidly loses heat at night—could push temperatures even lower between March 18 and 20. Northern regions may see the mercury drop to a bone-chilling 9 degrees, while central Taiwan could experience lows around 10 degrees. Southern areas will be slightly more temperate at 12 degrees, with Hualien and Taitung on the eastern coast maintaining relatively milder conditions at 14 degrees.
Relief from the unseasonable cold will begin after March 20, when daytime temperatures across the island are expected to climb back above 20 degrees. The weather administration forecasts that the cold air mass will continue to weaken from March 21 onward, initiating a gradual warming trend. However, residents should note that despite the overall warming, mornings will remain notably cool for several days afterward.
