Rime ice and snow pellets formed on two of Taiwan's tallest peaks and a major forest park early today, as a cold air mass blanketed most of the country, pushing temperatures below 0°C in some elevated areas, agencies said.
Rime ice and glaze were seen early today on the northern peak of Yushan (玉山), Taiwan's tallest mountain at 3,952m, where the Yushan Weather Station recorded temperatures of minus-4.1°C, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
Snow pellets — which are formed when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes — were also seen at Hehuanshan's (合歡山) Wuling Pass (武嶺) at an altitude of 3,275m, making it mandatory for vehicles in the area to use snow chains, the Highway Bureau said.
Photo courtesy of the CWA
Meanwhile, in the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan County, the mercury fell to minus-4°C this morning, with rime ice forming on the foliage in the park, which is about 1,900m above sea level, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said.
The CWA has forecast that the weather in northern, northeastern and eastern Taiwan is to remain chilly today due to the continental cold air mass.
If conditions such as low temperatures and moisture prevail, ice, rime and sporadic snowfall can be expected at elevations of more than 3,000m in central Taiwan, and in areas more than 2,000m in the north and northeast of the country, the CWA said.
It has forecast lows of 11°C to 13°C today for the western half of Taiwan and the northeast, and 14°C to 15°C in Hualien and Taitung counties in the east.
Highs are to rise to no more than 14°C to 15°C in northern and northeastern Taiwan, and 17°C to 19°C in Hualien, Taitung and central Taiwan, while the south is to see highs of 22°C, the CWA said.
In the offshore counties, temperatures are to range between 15°C and 17°C today in Penghu County, 10°C to 14°C in Kinmen County and 8°C to 11°C in Lienchiang County, the CWA said.
Early today, the lowest temperature recorded in low-lying areas was 7.7°C in Lienchiang, while on Taiwan proper, it was 10.1°C in New Taipei City's Shihding District (石碇), the CWA added.
Also today, the CWA issued an orange-level cold advisory for New Taipei City and Yilan County, warning of temperatures of 6°C or lower or sustained temperatures of under 12°C for at least 24 hours.
The CWA also issued a "yellow" cold advisory, which covers Taoyuan, and Hsinchu and Miaoli counties, as well as Kinmen, indicating a possibility of temperatures falling below 10°C.
Meanwhile, sporadic rain was likely today in areas north of Taoyuan, as well as in Yilan and Hualien counties in the east and mountainous areas in the western half of Taiwan, and some scattered showers in Hsinchu and Taitung, the CWA said.
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