The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has warned temperatures in several cities and counties in western Taiwan could drop to below 6 degrees Celsius from Friday to Sunday as a cold snap grip the island.

According to the CWB, cold surge advisories were released Friday morning for the cities and counties of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County and Miaoli in northern Taiwan; Taichung, Changhua and Nantou in central Taiwan; and Yunlin, Chiayi City and Tainan in the south.

Residents in these areas are warned to prepare for "very cold" weather in the coming few days. The temperature in those areas could drop to below 6 degrees, the CWB said, while Keelung and Taipei are forecast to see lows hover around 10 degrees or lower.

The weather bureau also warned of "cold" weather in Hsinchu City, Chiayi County, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien, and the outlying county of Kinmen. In all those areas, the minimum temperature could fall to below 10 degrees by Sunday, the CWB forecast.

The bureau reminded people to stay warm and pay attention to indoor ventilation and electrical safety when using gas water heaters and electric heaters.

CWB data showed that a temperature as low as 3.9 degrees was detected in Zaoqiao Township, Miaoli County early Friday morning, followed by 4.1 degrees in Hsinchu's Emei Township and Miaoli's Gongguan Township.

Friday's weather is expected to be mostly cloudy, with daytime highs reaching up to 15 degrees in northern Taiwan, and 16-21 degrees in central and southern Taiwan, as well as Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, the CWB said.

Meanwhile, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (???) said that from Friday to next Monday, the temperature will feel warmer due to sunny skies, even though a dry cold spell was gripping Taiwan.

However, he warned that temperatures could drop very rapidly, from warm to cold, in a short period of time at night.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel