Temperatures went on a roller-coaster ride earlier this week as the mercury dropped from a national high of almost 30°C on Monday to 15°C yesterday.
The Central Weather Bureau’s initial forecasts had expected highs on Monday to be between 24°C and 27°C. However, temperatures in several areas exceeded that range, with the highest temperature of 31.2°C reported in Dawu Township (大武), Taitung County, followed by Chiayi County (29.9°C), Greater Tainan (28.9°C), Greater Taichung (28.8°C) and Taipei (28.4°C).
The bureau said the low temperatures yesterday were caused by the interaction of a frontal system and a continental cold air mass. The frontal system approached on Monday night, bringing rain to northern and northeastern regions.
The cold air mass started to affect the nation yesterday, with highs dropping by between 7°C and 10°C nationwide.
The bureau said daytime temperatures today could drop to 14°C in the north, to between 15°C and 17°C in central regions, between 17°C and 21°C in the south and between 17°C and 20°C in the east. It also warned that temperatures in the coastal plains in the north and northeast regions could drop to 10°C, adding that snowfall is possible in mountainous areas.
The nation is set to remain under the influence of the strong cold air mass until early tomorrow morning.
Later tomorrow, the mercury will rise gradually as the cold air mass is expected to weaken, but the chances of rain remain high in northern and northeastern regions on Friday.
The bureau said that rain in the plains areas of northern Taiwan would gradually ease from Saturday, but that residents in northern, central and southern regions, as well as in Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, should beware of reduced visibility caused by fog.
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