Weather

Two cold air masses forecast before Feb. 8

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/31
By: Wang Shu-fen and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) Two cold air masses are expected to approach

CNA file photo

CNA file photo

Taiwan before Chinese New Year’s Day on Feb. 8, with northern Taiwan expected to experience chilly, wet weather during both cold waves, the Central Weather Bureau forecast on Sunday.

The first cold front, a continental cold air mass from southern China that will affect Taiwan from Monday to Wednesday, will send temperatures to lows of 13 degrees Celsius in the north and northeast.

The mercury will fall to lows of 14 degrees in central and southern Taiwan and 16 to 17 degrees in Hualien and Taitung counties.

During the period, rain is expected for areas in the northern half of Taiwan, and parts of eastern and southern Taiwan, the bureau said.

That cold front will weaken on Thursday, and another cold air mass will approach Taiwan on Friday.

Less rainy weekend in forecast; cooler in northern Taiwan

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-30
By: Central News Agency

Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) A weather front that has brought rain to all
6732241parts of Taiwan since Thursday will gradually move away from the

island, ushering in cooler air from the north to bring temperatures

down by two to three degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau said Saturday.

There could still be some showers around the country Saturday but any precipitation should be far more moderate than during the two previous days, especially in the latter half of the day, the bureau said.     [FULL  STORY]

Rain before northern Taiwan is affected by seasonal winds Saturday

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/28
By: Chen Wei-ting and Jay Chen

Taipei, Jan. 28 (CNA) Rain is in the forecast around Taiwan Thursday

(CNA file photo)

(CNA file photo)

after two balmy winter days, with precipitation becoming more prevalent Friday followed by northeastern seasonal winds that are expected to pick up Saturday, the Central Weather Bureau said.

From Saturday to next Wednesday, February 3, northern Taiwan will likely be cold and wet under the influence of the seasonal winds, with lows around 16 degrees Celsius, the bureau said.

For Thursday, there will only be brief showers and temperatures are expected to reach 20 degrees in northern Taiwan, 21 degrees in central Taiwan and 24 degrees in the south, it said.

Heavier rain can be expected in all parts of Taiwan on Friday, the bureau said.      [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan rolls out rural relief measures for cold snap

Taiwan Today
Date: January 26, 2016

A special task force coordinating rural relief measures in the wake of Taiwan’s

A strawberry field in northern Taiwan’s Miaoli County is covered in snow as a result of the Jan. 23-25 cold front that gripped the nation. (CNA)

A strawberry field in northern Taiwan’s Miaoli County is covered in snow as a result of the Jan. 23-25 cold front that gripped the nation. (CNA)

recent cold snap was established Jan. 25 during a special ROC Presidential Office meeting in Taipei City.

Headed by the Council of Agriculture, the group will handle the central government’s emergency response and keep abreast of the latest developments. It also aims to get farmers back on their feet as soon as possible, while providing financial subsidies on a case-by-case basis.

The meeting was called by President Ma Ying-jeou and attended by acting Premier Chang San-cheng and other key Cabinet officials.

COA statistics pegged overall agricultural damage caused by the Jan. 23-25 cold front at NT$132.2 million (US$3.9 million). Tainan City bore the brunt of the blow, sustaining losses of nearly NT$81.4 million in local aquaculture.

COA Deputy Minister Sha Chih-yi said the council is identifying cold snap-hit areas around Taiwan and preparing to release relief funds. “Eligible cities and counties must first undertake damage assessments before submitting applications.     [FULL  STORY]

Severe cold spell rewrites Taiwan’s weather record books

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/25
By: Chen Ting-wei and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) A powerful cold front that has engulfed Taiwan since 201601250034t0001Saturday has set many new firsts, including forcing the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) to issue a low temperature warning covering the entire country on Sunday for the first time.

Even offshore islands, including Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu, were all included in the warning, the bureau said.

Temperatures set record lows in many parts of the country. Weather stations in Su’ao in Yilan County, Xinwu in Taoyuan, and Anbu and Zhuzihu on Yangmingshan all recorded their lowest temperatures ever on Sunday, hitting 5 degrees Celsius in Su’ao, 4.2 degrees in Xinwu, minus 3.7 degrees in Anbu and minus 1.5 degrees in Zhuzihu.

The weather monitoring stations in Kinmen and Matsu set records on Monday, with lows of 1.3 degrees in Kinmen and 0.3 degrees in Matsu.     [FULL  STORY]

Temperatures will remain low Monday, but no snow: CWB

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-25
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The cold spell will continue to blanket Taiwan throughout Monday, but 6731100chances for snow are likely to be slim, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Temperature in the greater Taipei area was recorded at 5.3 degrees Celsius in early morning, a tad higher than the previous day during the break of dawn.

“The low temperature will last through early Tuesday, but chances for the public to witness another snowfall will be slim because of the dry wind from the continental north,” the weather bureau said.

According to data collected from the 29 weather stations based around the island, temperatures across Danshui, Hsinchu and Suao saw record lows on Sunday, registering at 3.8 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively.     [FULL  STORY]

Steam spotted rising from Taiwan Strait amid cold spell

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/24
By: Chen Wei-ting and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Jan. 24 (CNA) The Taiwan Strait was steaming, a surfer in the

(Photo courtesy of surfer Ah Shui)

(Photo courtesy of surfer Ah Shui)

southern Taiwan county of Pingtung said Sunday, as Taiwan was reeling under a strong cold spell that brought snow to many places around the subtropical island, where snow is rare and unusual.

The surfer, calling himself “Ah Shui,” photographed the rare phenomenon in Fangshan Township in Pingtung. He said he felt that the sea water temperature this year is the highest in recent years.

Apart from Ah Shui, steam rising from the water’s surface was also reported in Liuqiu Township, an outlying island off Pingtung County, earlier in the day.

According to the county’s Hengchun Weather Station, under the influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation phenomenon, the temperature of sea water this year has been detected to be around 1 degree Celsius higher than in the past.     [FULL  STORY]

Cold weather brings snow to nation

RECORD LOWS:With thermometers registering just 4oC in Taipei, it was the lowest temperature recorded in the capital in 44 years and the second-lowest ever

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 25, 2016
By: Staff Writer, with CNA

A rare sight of snow wowed people nationwide yesterday, from Taipei to

Hikers yesterday strip to the waist to pose in the snow while trekking along the Shengmushan section of the National Trail System in Yilan County’s Jiaosi Township. Photo: CNA

Hikers yesterday strip to the waist to pose in the snow while trekking along the Shengmushan section of the National Trail System in Yilan County’s Jiaosi Township. Photo: CNA

Pingtung County.

Under the influence of a strong cold air mass, many places in Taiwan — even those located at an altitude of only 400m to 500m — received a covering of snow or soft hail overnight, exciting locals, who likely have never seen snow in real life since they were born.

Despite low temperatures, people were seen swarming to elevated areas, including Keelung’s 726m-high Jiangziliaoshan (姜子寮山), Taipei’s Yangmingshan (陽明山) and New Taipei City’s Linkou (林口) and Pinglin (坪林) districts, to appreciate the natural beauty of the snow.

As of yesterday morning, the accumulated snow had reached 20cm in Taoyuan’s Lalashan (拉拉山) Forest Recreation Area.

The Motian (摩天嶺-) mountain area along the Southern Cross-Island Highway also reported showers of snow started at 4am yesterday, as well as on Yunlin County’s Jiananyun Peak (嘉南雲峰), where snow began falling at about 11am yesterday at an altitude of about 1,500m.     [FULL  STORY]

Over 85 dead around Taiwan, victims of cold spell (update)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/24
By: Cheng Chi-fong, Kuo Chu-chen, Bien Chin-feng, Kuo Chung-han and
Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Jan. 24 (CNA) A king-size cold spell had taken a toll of at least 85

CNA file photo

CNA file photo

lives in Taiwan as of Sunday evening, including 35 deaths reported in Taoyuan in northern Taiwan.

Taoyuan City Fire Department said between early Sunday and 7:00 p.m. that day, seven people were dead, probably because of hypothermia or cardiac diseases caused by the sudden drop in temperature.

During the previous two days, the department said, 28 OHCA deaths in the city were believed to be caused by the cold front. Out-of- hospital cardiac arrest is also known as dead-on-arrival (at hospital).     [FULL  STORY]

Wholesale prices of fresh vegetables up by 13%: TAPM

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-24
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Fresh vegetable prices in Taipei have gone up by 13 percent as a result of 6731005the cold weather blanketing the island, the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co (TAPM) revealed Sunday.

The TAPM revealed that fruit and vegetable wholesalers have purchased a total of 1,565 metric tons of agriculture produce in the morning, priced at NT$32.9 per kilogram on average, which is 13 percent higher than the average NT$29.1/kg on Saturday.

The company said the rise was due to a depleting stockpile in Taipei as demand for vegetables in restaurants across the city has gone up amid the cold front.     [FULL  STORY]