With a continental cold air mass approaching Taiwan, temperatures in the north of the country are expected to drop to as low as 10 degrees Celsius next week, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Monday.

The CWB said the cold air mass will approach Taiwan from Saturday and gather momentum over the following few days, sending temperatures down to 10-12 degrees in areas north of central Taiwan next Monday Dec. 27.

The CWB warned that coastal areas and open regions in northern and northeastern Taiwan could feel the weather front on Dec. 27, with weather monitoring stations in Taipei likely to record temperatures of around 12 degrees.

Elsewhere, temperatures are expected to range between 14-15 degrees on Dec. 27, according to the CWB said.

Wu Der-rong (???), a meteorologist and adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University, forecast that the strength of the upcoming continental cold air mass is likely to bring a cold spell, adding that the mercury could drop to near freezing at night.

Over the upcoming weekend, an increase in moisture, along with the cold air, is likely to bring snow to mountains over 2,000 meters in northern Taiwan and peaks over 3,000 meters elsewhere in the country, the CWB said.

Despite the expected lower temperature on Dec. 27, the drop in moisture will reduce the chance of snow, the CWB added.

On Monday, as the seasonal northeasterly wind system weakens, the weather is forecast to be warmer, with daytime temperatures around Taiwan likely to hit 22-24 degrees before falling to 17-20 degrees at night, the CWB said, urging the public to remain vigilant over the large daytime-night temperature differential.

Despite the warmer weather, a cloud system is expected to move northward and bring sporadic showers around the country and precipitation will increase over the next few days, the CWB said.

As of 8 a.m. Monday, Typhoon Rai was located 1,160 kilometers southwest of Taiwan’s southernmost tip Eluanbi, moving in a northeasterly direction at a speed of 21km per hour, the bureau said.

The storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of 126kph, with gusts of up to 155kph, according to the CWB.

Although the storm is unlikely to directly impact Taiwan, it’s periphery is expected to bring rain to the country over the next three days, the CWB said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel