An incoming cold front sent temperatures plunging in Taiwan on Saturday, with Cape Fugui on the northernmost point of Taiwan recording the lowest temperature of any low-lying area on the island, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

Temperatures at Cape Fugui in New Taipei hit a low of 8.1 degrees Celsius at 7:10 p.m. Saturday, and was the lowest of any low-lying area in Taiwan as of 9:30 p.m.

It was followed by temperatures of 9.0 degrees in the Yangmei area in Taoyuan at 8:45 p.m. and 9.1 degrees in the Wugu area of New Taipei at 8:10 p.m.

The coldest temperature anywhere in Taiwan regardless of altitude was minus 0.6 degrees on Mount Tao in Taichung’s Heping District (at 9 p.m.), followed by minus 0.4 degrees in a valley of Mount Nanhu in the same Taichung district (at 8 p.m.) and minus 0.3 degrees on Taipingshan in Yilan County (at 8:10 p.m.).

Because of the cold spell, nearly 1,700 visitors traveled to the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan on Saturday morning hoping to see snow, said park official Lin Chih-hsiung (???).

But the only place that saw even a few flakes of snow during the day around Taiwan was in the central part of the island on Yushan (Mt. Jade), Taiwan’s highest mountain at 3,952 meters.

To ensure the safety of travelers, Taipingshan workers will inspect the roads leading to the recreational area starting at 6 a.m. Sunday before deciding when to allow people in, Lin said.

Also, due to the possibility of icing brought by the cold weather, the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) said sections of Provincial Highway No. 14 and No. 8 leading to Hehuan Mountain in central Taiwan were temporarily closed to traffic from 5 p.m. Saturday.

The reopening of the sections will depend on road conditions Sunday morning, the DGH said, and that it could also consider only reopening the traffic to motorists with snow chains.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel