Cold Front Sends Temperatures Plunging 首波寒流報到下探8度 3千高山有望降雪

The first cold front of the season has arrived, and is expected to send temperatures down to 8 degrees in the morning on the 18th in some parts of Taiwan, with chances of snow on high mountains. The first-ever official outdoor working guidelines have been issued while vulnerable groups are advised to stay warm.

Although temperatures in northern Taiwan rose slightly on the morning of the 16th, it got colder and wetter throughout the day due to a southbound continental cold air mass. According to the Central Weather Bureau, temperatures could fall to 8 degrees in northern and eastern Taiwan on the mornings of the 17th and 18th, with a possibility of snow at altitudes of 3,000 meters and higher.

Wang Chun-hsien, Central Weather Bureau Forecaster: “There is a possibility of snow at altitudes of 3,000 meters or above on Dec. 17 and 18, with a high possibility of snow at altitudes of 2,000 meters or above in northern and central Taiwan.”

The bureau says the weather will turn "dry cold" on the 19th, after which temperatures will rebound. The Ministry of Labor has issued its first-ever outdoor operation guidelines. Employers that don't help their employees stay warm now face fines of up to NT$300,000.

Mr. Huang, Citizen: “It's better that way, but we still have to do what we're told.”

Ms. Guo, Citizen: “If (the temperature) doesn't fall below zero, I think it's OK. You just have to remember to stay warm.”

Pingtung, Tainan and Chiayi are also reminding farmers and fishermen to stay warm and to report any cold-related losses to the authorities for agricultural natural disaster relief.

北部民眾一早出門，可以感受到氣溫回暖2到3度，不過16日下午就要變天，因為大陸冷空氣開始南下，全台氣溫直降水氣也會增加，而且越晚越冷。中央氣象局表示，這波冷空氣達到寒流等級，尤其從週末晚間到週日清晨，北部及東北部低溫將下探到8度，而3千公尺以上高山還有機會出現降雪。

預報員王君賢說明：「週六到週日的清晨，在各地3千公尺以上的高山會有下雪的機率，特別是在中部以北的話，大概2千公尺左右的高山也會有下雪的機率。」

氣象局指出，週日水氣減少全台將轉為乾冷天氣，要到下週一19日全台氣溫才會逐漸回暖。面對寒流報到，勞動部也首度發布「戶外作業指引」，要求雇主要幫勞工保暖，否則最高可開罰30萬元。

民眾黃先生認為：「會比較好啊，可是我們還是照我們長官交代我們的走。」

郭小姐說：「如果沒有到零度以下的話，我是覺得還好，穿保暖一點就好了。」

屏東、台南及嘉義縣府則是呼籲農牧漁民要做好防寒措施，如果遇到寒害災情，請立即向當地公所通報，將依「農業天然災害救助辦法」辦理補助，協助盡速恢復生產。