Taiwanese meteorologists stated that today (January 31) and tomorrow (February 1) the weather will be relatively warm, but on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (Sunday, February 2), a frontal boundary will quickly pass through. Temperatures in the north and eastern regions will gradually drop, and next week a strong cold air mass will move southwards, causing the weather in Taiwan to turn cold once again. It is advised for the public to pay attention to staying warm.
Associate Professor Wu Derong from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Central University in Taiwan, in a column for the “Meteorological Application Promotion Foundation,” pointed out that according to the latest European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) model simulation as of 8:00 p.m. on the 30th, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the cold air will continue to weaken, leading to warmer weather with significant day and night temperature differences. Mid-level clouds will gradually move northwards, resulting in cloudy weather in various regions. There may be sporadic drizzles in the near mountainous and eastern areas, with localized fog in the western regions, emphasizing the importance of driving safety.
Wu Derong mentioned that according to the latest European simulation, on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, mid-level clouds will pass through, leading to cloudy weather with noticeably warmer conditions. There may be a slight chance of light rainfall in certain areas in the north, east, and mountainous regions. As for the fifth day of the Lunar New Year next week, a frontal boundary will pass quickly, increasing the likelihood of brief rain showers in the north and east with temperatures gradually decreasing.
Regarding the upcoming Monday (February 3), Wu Derong explained that a strong cold air mass will move southwards, bringing localized rain in the north and east, causing a rapid temperature drop and transforming the weather to be humid and cold in the northern and eastern regions. By Tuesday and Wednesday next week (4th and 5th), the weather will transition from humid to dry and cold as the probability of a “strong continental cold front” becomes highest. It is recommended to stay warm as there might be a chance of snow above 2,000 meters (e.g., Mount Taiping and Mount Hehuan) on Monday night until Tuesday morning.
He further mentioned that according to the latest model adjustments from various countries, from Thursday to Saturday next week (6th to 8th), the cold air will weaken gradually with each passing day as the weather warms up. However, starting from the 9th, another wave of cold air will move southwards, causing temperatures to drop once again. The simulation of this cold air by different countries’ models remains inconsistent and continuously changing, hence continuous monitoring is advised.