Taipei: The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Thursday issued a cold surge advisory for 18 cities and counties across Taiwan, warning of temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius during the day and into the night. New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, and the counties of Yilan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli are expected to experience sustained temperatures of 10 degrees or lower. According to Focus Taiwan, the mercury is likely to drop temporarily below 10 degrees in most other areas, except for Taitung, Pingtung, and the offshore counties of Penghu and Lienchiang. The cold temperatures are caused by a strong continental cold air mass, combined with radiative cooling, a process in which heat escapes from the ground into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong mentioned that from Friday through next Wednesday, clearer skies can be expected, and he warned of large daytime-nighttime temperature swings across Taiwan during that period. While sunny skies will prevail during the daytime, enhanced radiativ e cooling will lead to low temperatures at night and in the early morning.