Cold Front to Bring Heavy Rain and Sub-10°C temperatures to Taiwan Through New Year’s Eve
A powerful cold air mass is poised to sweep across Taiwan, bringing with it heavy rainfall, considerably dropping temperatures, and a dampened outlook for New Year’s celebrations. Forecasters predict the most intense cold will arrive on Thursday, with temperatures potentially falling below 10°C in northern and northeastern regions from Friday night into Saturday morning.
According to Lin Dingyi, a forecaster from the Central Meteorological Administration, the cold air will initially move southward tomorrow, December 24th, bringing localized, heavy rainfall to the north and northeast of Taoyuan. The northeast monsoon will strengthen throughout the day,with short-term rainfall expected in the north and eastern half of Taoyuan,and also the Hengchun Peninsula. Other areas will experience cloudy to sunny conditions.
The heaviest rainfall is anticipated to continue through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 25th and 26th),with persistent showers in the north and northeast of Taoyuan,extending to the north,east,southeast,and Hengchun Peninsula. Sporadic rainfall is also expected in the central and southern mountainous areas.
While the cold air mass will weaken over the weekend (December 27th and 28th), lingering moisture will maintain the possibility of brief rainfalls in the north and eastern half of Taoyuan, as well as the Hengchun Peninsula and mountainous areas south of Hsinchu. Monday, December 29th, is expected to be drier, with mostly cloudy to sunny skies across the island, though isolated showers may persist in the eastern half and Hengchun Peninsula, as well as along the north coast of Keelung and greater taipei.
Though, the reprieve will be short-lived. Another wave of the northeast monsoon will arrive on Tuesday, December 30th, increasing moisture levels and bringing renewed chances of localized rainfall in the north and eastern half of taoyuan, alongside generally cloudy to sunny conditions elsewhere.
New Year’s Eve, December 31st, will be notably wet, with the northeast monsoon bringing widespread rainfall to the northern and eastern halves of the island, and sporadic showers in the central and southern mountainous regions. this pattern is expected to continue into Friday, January 2, 2026. The abundance of moisture along the east coast suggests a low probability of clear skies on new Year’s Day.
Regarding temperatures, Lin Dingyi indicated that the northeast monsoon will strengthen tomorrow, resulting in lows of 16 to 18°C and highs of 22 to 24°C in the north and northeast. the south and east of Huadong will experience slightly warmer temperatures, with lows around 19°C and highs between 26 and 29°C.
The arrival of the continental cold air mass on Thursday and Friday will dramatically lower temperatures, particularly in the north, northeast, and east. Morning temperatures will feel noticeably colder across the island. “The coldest period will be from Friday night to early Saturday morning,” Lin dingyi stated, with lows potentially dropping to 12 or 13°C in the north and northeast, and even below 10°C in exposed areas.
The continental cold air mass will gradually weaken on Saturday and Sunday, but the north and northeast will remain chilly. Temperatures will rise on Monday, though cooler conditions are still expected in the mornings and evenings. The strengthening of another northeast monsoon on Tuesday will once again bring a slight temperature decrease.
