TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A powerful cold air mass has descended upon Taiwan, enveloping the island in unseasonably chilly conditions that have residents reaching for extra layers. The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), Taiwan's national meteorological agency, reported that on Wednesday (April 2), temperatures will remain notably low during morning and evening hours, with daytime high temperatures in the northern and northeastern regions struggling to climb out of the cool range despite spring's official arrival.
Northern regions of Taiwan could experience temperatures plummeting to as low as 12 or 13 degrees Celsius (53.6 or 55.4°F), while other areas across the island may face overnight lows hovering between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius (59 and 62.6°F). CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) provided additional details about the upcoming Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday, noting that while the first two days will remain predominantly dry, residents should prepare for significant temperature variations throughout the day due to radiative cooling effects. The weather pattern will shift noticeably starting Saturday, when atmospheric moisture levels will increase substantially, bringing brief but potentially disruptive showers to the northern and eastern regions of the island.
Lin provided a more detailed forecast for the holiday period, advising that the island's northern regions could see a significant warming trend with daytime high temperatures reaching up to 27 degrees Celsius (80.6°F) by Friday, with comparable warming conditions expected across the central and southern regions as well. The meteorologist cautioned, however, that atmospheric moisture levels will begin rising noticeably from Saturday onward, triggering brief but potentially widespread shower activity along Keelung's picturesque north coast, throughout the eastern half of the island where mountains meet coastline, and across the scenic Hengchun Peninsula at Taiwan's southernmost tip, potentially affecting outdoor holiday activities planned for these areas.
The weather authority issued additional advisories regarding immediate conditions, with the forecaster warning of potentially hazardous strong wind gusts expected throughout Wednesday in multiple regions spanning from the northern urban center of New Taipei to the southern city of Tainan, as well as the rural counties of Pingtung and Taitung in the south and east, plus Taiwan's outlying islands where wind effects are typically amplified by coastal geography. Lin elaborated on the cold air mass timeline, noting that these frigid conditions will persist with full intensity until Thursday morning, potentially driving temperatures even lower before any relief arrives. According to the meteorological assessment, the cold air mass will gradually release its grip on the region by Friday, though the effects of radiative cooling — where heat rapidly dissipates after sunset—will remain noticeable, creating continued temperature fluctuations between day and night.
