TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A cold snap hit Taiwan on Wednesday (Dec. 17), with Hsinchu County's Guanxi Township (關西鎮) recording the lowest lowland temperature at 9.5 degrees Celsius (49.1°F). Tainan City's Nansi District (楠西區) dropped to 10.1 degrees Celsius (50.2°F), according to the Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署). The cold wave brought the chilliest morning temperatures to lowland areas across western Taiwan, affecting residents in both northern and southern regions.
Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University (國立中央大學), attributed the morning chill to radiative cooling. Lowland temperatures ranged between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius (50°F to 53.6°F), Wu explained. Northern Taiwan will experience comfortable daytime weather, while the south will see slightly warmer conditions. Wu added that the north coast and eastern Greater Taipei may experience brief showers.
Wu wrote in his column on the Meteorological Application & Development Foundation (氣象應用推廣基金會) website that northeast winds will strengthen over the next two days. The increased moisture raises the likelihood of brief, localized showers along the north coast, eastern Greater Taipei, and eastern Taiwan. Residents in these windward areas should prepare for intermittent wet conditions through Friday.
Wu forecast that mid- to high-level clouds will move northward from the South China Sea on Friday, increasing cloud cover over Taiwan. Mountain areas and eastern Taiwan may experience brief showers, while other lowland regions could see occasional light drizzle. The cloud system will bring unsettled weather conditions across the island through the weekend.
