Continuous damp days might end today. Residents will have cooperative weather for them to enjoy colorful lanterns, decorated streets and nation-wide festivals, according to the Central Weather Bureau.
Yesterday morning, the bureau lifted low temperature warnings. Temperatures on the outlying islands bounced back to 15?C or higher. Weather forecasters said yesterday that residents might get a reprieve from uncomfortable cold and damp weather today. In northern Taiwan, showers might be seen on and off today. In southern Taiwan, the weather will be ideal for residents to carry out activities outdoors for this year's Lantern Festival. In Tainan City, where the Taiwan Lantern Festival (台灣燈會) will be held, tourists will have cooperative weather, with temperatures between 17?C and 26?C.
"Generally, temperatures on Wednesday will be higher than 20?C, which won't make residents feel cold," said Fred Tsai (蔡甫甸), a division chief at the bureau's Weather Forecast Center.
Tsai said that temperatures in Kinmen and Matsu will still be lower than 10?C.
However, Tsai said that rain might come again on Thursday, when the next cold front is expected to arrive in Taiwan. Residents in northeastern and eastern Taiwan will be affected by rainy days beginning Thursday.
"On Friday, residents have to be alert to a sharp drop in temperatures to about 12?C in northern Taiwan, 13?C in central Taiwan, and 16?C in the south," Tsai said.
Tsai said that heavy fog might be seen today and tomorrow in western Taiwan because of dramatic changes in temperatures, reminding drivers and air travelers of possible inconvenience.
Officials at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday alerted the public to keep warm because the number of flu cases had been increasing in recent cold days.
The number of children visiting hospitals because of the flu has increased by roughly 40 percent.
However, recent cold days are perfect for cherry blossoms on Yangmingshan. Taipei City Government officials said yesterday that this year's flowering season would be more attractive to tourists because of recent cold temperatures. Related activities designed for the flowering season will be carried out between this coming Friday and March 27. Lights have been decorated along main routes leading to Yangmingshan and at several famous scenic spots, including Flower Clock and Fountain Pond.
Officials said that cherry blossoms will be illuminated by artificial lights in the evening for tourists to enjoy different views.
RSS