An incoming cold front pushed temperatures in parts of northern Taiwan down into the low single digits early today, and is expected to bring crisp, sunny weather to much of the country through the weekend, forecasters said.
According to Central Weather Administration (CWA) data, temperatures hit as low as 3.6°C in mountainous Datong Township (大同) in Yilan County and 8°C in hilly Beitou (北投) in the northwestern part of Taipei overnight.
Photo: CNA
In low-lying areas, Gongguan Township (公館) in Miaoli County recorded the lowest overnight temperature of any non-mountainous area in Taiwan at 12.7°C, while Shihding District (石碇) in New Taipei City reported a low of 13.7°C.
In most other locations in the north, overnight lows fell to 16°C to 17°C, CWA data showed.
The arrival of the current dry, cold air mass over Taiwan is expected to bring a spell of crisp, sunny weather to much of the country through Sunday morning, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said.
During that period, daytime temperatures are to climb to about 23°C in the north and 27°C to 28°C in the center and south, but would drop quickly, giving way to cold temperatures overnight, Wu said.
Wu said the current weather system would likely qualify as the winter's first "continental cold air mass," meaning that it is to bring temperatures of 10°C or below in some low-elevation areas, or 14°C or below at the Taipei weather station.
The CWA's seven-day forecast shows temperatures dropping to 11°C to 13°C as far south as Chiayi County on Friday.
As the cold front lifts on Sunday through the early part of next week, the weather is to gradually turn rainy in the east, while the western half of the country would continue to experience clear weather and large day-night temperature gaps, Wu said.
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