The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) on Thursday issued a low-temperature alert for the island county of Kinmen, where temperatures are expected to drop below 10 degrees Celsius in some areas under the influence of a continental cold air mass.

The CWB cautioned residents in the outlying county to keep warm and be aware of cold weather-related cardiac and respiratory symptoms, as well as possible crop damage.

Meanwhile, an approaching weather front is expected to bring the winter’s first cold snap to Taiwan, with lows of 6-8 degrees Celsius forecast for parts of the country, according to the CWB.

Leading into the weekend, the CWB said temperatures on Thursday would hover between 14 and 20 degrees in northern parts of the country, and 17 and 26 degrees in the rest of Taiwan, with the exception of Pingtung, which could see highs of 28 degrees.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is also forecast for Keelung and northern and eastern coastal areas as well as mountainous parts of Greater Taipei, the CWB said.

The lowest temperature for any low-lying area in Taiwan proper recorded Thursday morning was 11.7 degrees in New Taipei’s Shimen District, while 12.3 degrees was recorded in Taoyuan’s Yangmei District, according to the CWB.

In addition, snowfall is possible on mountains in the north at altitudes of 3,500 meters and higher, the CWB forecast.

Beginning Friday, an approaching cold front will bring rain to most parts of the country, with temperatures becoming noticeably colder in the evening and at night due to the arrival of the winter’s first cold snap, CWB forecaster Chao Hung (??) said.

The CWB defines a cold snap as a weather event where temperatures recorded by the bureau’s Taipei weather station fall below 10 degrees.

According to meteorologist Wu Der-rong (???), the upcoming cold snap could send the mercury to around 8 degrees in Taipei and below 6 degrees in low-lying areas of Taiwan over the weekend.

On Saturday, scattered and localized showers are forecast in the north and east, with mostly cloudy skies expected in other areas as temperatures continue to dip.

Between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, the cold snap will be the strongest and bring clear skies and frigid temperatures, according to Wu, an adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University.

The cold snap will begin to wane during Monday daytime, Wu said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel