People across the country should brace for another cold and rainy weekend with the forecast arrival on Friday of a cold air mass that could send temperatures in the north to a low of 12oC, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday.
Bureau forecaster Douglas Hsiao (蕭家森) said the cold front lingering from the weekend would gradually weaken and temperatures would start climbing from today until Thursday.
While the sun showed its face in Taipei yesterday, Hsiao said the highest temperature in the city was only 15oC. Temperatures were warmer in central and southern Taiwan, with the mercury rising to 21oC and 22oC respectively.
Photo: Pan Hsin-hui, Taipei Times
However, the relatively stable weather is forecast to end on Thursday, with the arrival of another cold air mass with more humidity on Friday, Hsiao said.
Chances of rain are high nationwide, he said.
Hsiao added that the force of the cold air mass could potentially be weaker than last weekend’s cold wave, but the bureau was still monitoring developments.
The cold weather has a taken a toll on the fishery industry, with the Council of Agriculture reporting yesterday that milkfish losses since Jan. 6 already topped NT$7.8 million (US$264,400).
Milkfish is one of the nation’s most competitive aquaculture exports, with a majority of the fish farms located in the southwest.
As of 10am yesterday, Greater Kaohsiung’s Lujhu District (路竹) was the hardest hit, with losses reaching approximately NT$4.1 million. It was followed by Syuejia District (學甲) in Greater Tainan, with losses reaching NT$3.7 million.
Last weekend’s cold front, which brought temperatures down to their lowest readings this winter, also resulted in a spike in people seeking emergency care.
The emergency rooms of several hospitals across the nation were full, mainly with people suffering from chronic diseases.
A doctor at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City (新北市) said nearly 600 patients filled the hospital’s emergency room the previous day, about 33 percent more than usual.
The emergency room, where the temperature is lower than other wards, was so cold that some patients brought their own sleeping bags and blankets to keep warm, the doctor said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white