Cooler Weather Arrives in Taiwan After Warm Weekend
Taiwan is bracing for a shift in weather patterns, with cooler temperatures and increased rainfall expected starting Monday, February 16th, following a warm weekend, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). While western Taiwan enjoyed daytime highs approaching 30 degrees Celsius, a frontal system is forecast to bring wetter and cooler conditions.
The CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi stated that the warm conditions would persist through Sunday. However, a significant temperature drop is anticipated, particularly in northern Taiwan, as the frontal system moves in. Intermittent rain is likely in areas north of Taoyuan, as well as in Yilan and Hualien. Sporadic showers may also occur in Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, and mountainous regions of Hsinchu and Miaoli.
Tonight, temperatures in parts of Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Nantou could dip below 10 degrees Celsius due to radiative cooling. Tomorrow, February 17th, will see a continuation of the cooler trend in the north and northeast, with lows ranging from 13 to 16 degrees Celsius in areas from Taichung northward to Yilan and Hualien. Southern regions, including Kaohsiung and Pingtung, and Taitung will experience slightly milder temperatures, between 17 and 18 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs are expected to reach around 20 degrees Celsius in the north and northeast, while the south could see temperatures climb as high as 26 degrees Celsius.
The CWA has issued land strong wind alerts for 13 counties and cities, effective from this afternoon through late evening. These include New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County and City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Tainan City, Pingtung County, Taitung County (including Lanyu and Green Island), and Penghu County. Residents in these areas should be prepared for average wind speeds exceeding 6 and gusts potentially reaching 8 or higher.
Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to gradually rise starting on February 19th, with the sharpest increase occurring by Monday, February 23rd. Northern Taiwan could see highs exceeding 25 degrees Celsius, and central and southern regions may even reach 30 degrees Celsius. However, the overall period will continue to be characterized by significant day-night temperature differences.
The weather forecast for February 17th in Taipei indicates cloudy conditions with a temperature of 61°F (approximately 16°C) and a wind speed of 12 mph from the east-northeast. The bio-meteorological forecast suggests a meteorological sensitivity index of 4, indicating that meteosensitive individuals may experience strong reactions to the weather. Geomagnetic conditions are also rated at 3, suggesting a high probability of solar activity affecting sensitive people.
