TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's stretch of pleasant spring weather will come to an abrupt end this week, meteorologists warned on Tuesday (March 25). A weather front approaching the island nation is expected to make landfall early Friday, bringing precipitation and a notable temperature drop that will primarily affect the northern and northeastern portions of the country. The sudden shift marks the end of what has been an unusually warm and clear period across much of Taiwan.
The warm and clear conditions currently blanketing the island will continue for several more days, according to Weather Risk Company (天氣風險公司) analyst Ou Tsung-hsueh (歐宗學). Residents of southern Taiwan have been enjoying improved air quality thanks to a recent directional change in prevailing winds. However, Ou cautioned that afternoon ozone concentrations could increase, potentially affecting sensitive groups despite the otherwise favorable conditions.
The approaching weather system will first manifest as scattered precipitation across northern, northeastern, and eastern regions of Taiwan. While Ou characterized the front as structurally weak, he noted that localized atmospheric convection could still generate short-lived but intense thunderstorm activity in some areas. The more significant change will come in the front's wake, as a northeast monsoon pushes into Taiwan, delivering a mass of cooler air that will sharply contrast with the recent springlike temperatures residents have been enjoying.
The weekend weather pattern will be dominated by the lingering northeast monsoon, which will draw moisture from the South China region and significantly raise precipitation probabilities across the island. This weather system will bring the most pronounced cold air of the period, Ou explained, with northern Taiwan experiencing temperatures between 15-19 degrees Celsius. Rural and elevated locations could see readings drop even further, creating the first truly chilly conditions in several weeks.
Northern regions may experience deteriorating air quality as ozone levels climb in the coming days, according to the meteorologist. The current atmospheric conditions are expected to remain largely unchanged through Wednesday, with Thursday bringing a modest increase in cloud formation as the front approaches. Ou urged residents to remain vigilant regarding the significant weather changes beginning Friday, emphasizing that the temperature gap between Taiwan's northern and southern regions will become increasingly pronounced as the weekend progresses.
