Light snow began falling on Taiwan’s highest peaks late on Sunday as a cold front swept across the country, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday.
“Snow began to fall on Yushan (玉山) on Sunday night, as a cold front arrived in Taiwan on New Year’s Eve and drove down temperatures throughout Taiwan,” a bureau official said.
The snowfall continued intermittently into yesterday morning, but it was not heavy because humidity levels were low, the official said.
PHOTO: CNA
Meanwhile, it began snowing on Hehuanshan (合歡山) in central Taiwan at around midnight on Sunday, according to police in Renai Village (仁愛), Nantou County.
“It was the first snow of the new year and the heaviest this winter,” a police officer said.
Snow accumulation around Wuling Farm and Songxue Lodge in the Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area were 7cm, the police said.
Vehicles traveling beyond the 28km marker on Highway No. 14 must be equipped with chains for safety, the police said.
The section of the highway beyond the marker climbs steeply toward Hehuanshan.
More snow is expected to blanket the highest peaks in the next few days as another cold front is forecast to hit between Thursday and Friday, with humidity levels rising steadily, the bureau said.
“Low temperatures will prevail until Jan. 8 nationwide, probably dropping to 10°C in some areas on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5,” the official said.
The next seven days in northern and northeastern regions are forecast to be cold and wet with overcast skies, the bureau said.
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