Cold Air Mass Sends Temperatures Plunging|愈夜愈冷! 入冬首波冷氣團到.空品差

The first continental cold air mass of the winter has arrived, sending temperatures in New Taipei City's Yonghe down to 12.7 degrees on the morning of Dec. 17. The Central Weather Bureau says open areas along the coast may find a low temperature of 11 degrees due to radiative cooling. The cold air mass also brought haze, but it was not as bad as expected. Meanwhile, fugitive dust from rivers indicates worsening air quality in central and southern Taiwan.


The first continental cold air mass of the season has arrived, and temperatures plunged to 11.9 degrees in Matsu on the morning of the 17th. On Taiwan proper, New Taipei City registered the lowest temperature of 12.7 degrees. The Central Weather Bureau says there will be sun in the daytime, but temperatures will fall later in the day. It will be coldest on the night of the 17th and early on the 18th.

It will be coldest from (the night of the 17th to the early morning of the 18th), with temperatures falling to 12-13 degrees in northern Taiwan. Temperatures may also hit a low of 11 degrees in some coastal or open areas.

Transboundary pollution is also affecting Taiwan. The Environmental Protection Administration says haze has not been as bad as expected and affected Taiwan later than expected due to wind direction. However, orange air quality alerts, which mean "unhealthy for sensitive groups," are being issued around the island. Central and southern Taiwan have it worst, with fugitive dust from rivers also affecting air quality.

The surface wind speed will still be very high, and surface dust could be a problem in the Taixi and Mailiao area.