TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan braces for scattered showers and dropping temperatures as the northeast monsoon affects multiple regions Monday (Dec. 22), according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象局), Taiwan's meteorological agency. The northern coast of Keelung, greater Taipei mountain areas, and the eastern half of the island, including the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), will experience rainfall Monday. The northeast region faces heavier downpours, while Greater Taipei expects sporadic showers.
Another northeast monsoon wave will strike Wednesday, disrupting Taiwan's first Christmas Day break, meteorologists warn. Analyst Hsueh Hao-tien (薛皓天) from WeatherRisk (天氣風險公司), a private weather forecasting company, reports Christmas Day will bring overcast skies with scattered showers to northern and eastern regions. Nighttime and early morning temperatures will plunge to 12-15 degrees Celsius (53.6-59°F), with Taipei potentially reaching a low of 14 degrees Celsius (57.2°F).
The CWA forecasts potential icy roads or frost above 2,000 meters (6,562 feet), with snowfall possible in areas exceeding 3,000 meters (9,843 feet). Hsueh advises mountain visitors to dress warmly and equip vehicles with snow chains for safety. The northeast monsoon will persist from Friday (Dec. 27) into the weekend, bringing showers to northern and eastern areas while other regions remain partly cloudy.
Temperatures will drop significantly over the weekend, with lows between 13 and 16 degrees Celsius (55.4-60.8°F) from Friday night to Saturday (Dec. 28) morning. Rainfall will concentrate on the windward northeast and eastern regions, with cloudy to overcast conditions from Hsinchu northward and across eastern Taiwan. Areas south of Miaoli will experience clear to partly cloudy skies. ◼
