TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象局) issued a cold weather alert Thursday (Jan. 15) as radiative cooling causes significant temperature fluctuations across the island. Temperatures will drop below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F) in parts of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and the Chiayi-Tainan area. Mornings and evenings will experience the coolest conditions, officials warned.
The CWA cautioned mountain roads may experience icy conditions and advised residents to dress in layers for wide temperature swings. Most regions will enjoy stable weather from Wednesday through Sunday (Jan. 18), ranging from partly cloudy to sunny conditions. Isolated showers may occur in southeastern Taiwan, the Hengchun (恆春) Peninsula, a southern region, and northern mountain areas.
Morning and evening temperatures in western Taiwan and Yilan range from 12 to 15 degrees Celsius (53.6°F to 59°F). Daytime highs could reach 25 degrees Celsius (77°F) in the north and 28 degrees Celsius (82.4°F) in central and southern regions. Officials urged farmers to protect crops and advised cardiovascular patients to take precautions against drastic temperature variations. Mountain travelers should remain vigilant about road safety.
The northeast monsoon will intensify Sunday (Jan. 19), with a strong continental cold air mass moving south Monday (Jan. 20). Wet and cold weather will affect areas north of central Taiwan and Yilan, with temperatures plummeting to 11 to 14 degrees Celsius (51.8°F to 57.2°F). Matsu (馬祖), an offshore island, could experience lows of 7 to 8 degrees Celsius (44.6°F to 46.4°F). Residents should prepare warm clothing and rain gear. ◼
