Taipei: Snow fell for the first time this winter on Yushan, Taiwan’s highest mountain, around midday on Thursday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA). The snowfall was recorded by the CWA’s Yushan weather station, situated 3,844.8 meters above sea level. Observations noted that snowflakes melted immediately upon contact with the ground at 12:25 p.m., leaving no accumulation.

According to Focus Taiwan, the earliest recorded first snow of the winter on Yushan occurred on October 1, 1986, while the latest was on March 26, 2023. Typically, the first snow appears between November 8 and December 31, with an average date of December 14.

In addition to the Yushan weather station, Paiyun Lodge in Yushan National Park, at an elevation of 3,402 meters, also experienced snowfall at 12:34 p.m. on Thursday. The snowfall ceased at 12:44 p.m., as reported by the Yushan National Park Headquarters.