In a captivating display of the power of nature, Taiwan’s highest peaks and a significant forest park were adorned with rime ice and snow pellets in the early hours of Thursday. This wintry spectacle was the result of a cold air mass enveloping the majority of the country, causing temperatures to plummet below freezing in some elevated locales.

The northern peak of Yushan, the tallest mountain in Taiwan standing at an awe-inspiring altitude of 3,952 meters, was graced with rime ice and glaze. At this majestic height, the Yushan Weather Station documented bitter temperatures of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius.

Simultaneously, Hehuanshan’s Wuling Pass, resting at an elevation of 3,275 meters, witnessed snow pellets cascading onto the terrain. These pellets form as supercooled water droplets attach and freeze on descending snowflakes. Due to these icy conditions, the Highway Bureau mandated the use of snow chains for all vehicles navigating the area.

The icy embrace extended to the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan County, where temperatures touched a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius. This chilling temperature fostered the creation of picturesque rime ice on the park’s foliage. The park itself is perched approximately 1,900 meters above sea level.

Looking ahead, the meteorological authority predicts that colder weather will persist in the northern, northeastern, and eastern regions of Taiwan, courtesy of the prevailing continental cold air mass.

Icy conditions, along with rime and potential sporadic snowfall, are anticipated should the low temperatures and moisture continue. Such phenomena may occur in elevations exceeding 3,000 meters in central Taiwan and above 2,000 meters in the northern and northeastern parts of the island.

More specifically, the forecast for Thursday suggests temperatures ranging from 11-13 degrees in the western and northeastern sections and 14-15 degrees in the eastern regions of Hualien and Taitung. Meanwhile, the northern and northeastern areas will see temperatures peak at 14-15 degrees, with central Taiwan and the east experiencing highs of 17-19 degrees, while the southern regions will bask in temperatures up to 22 degrees.

The offshore counties will experience a slightly different palette: Penghu Islands will see temperatures fluctuating between 15 and 17 degrees, Kinmen will feel the chill at 10-14 degrees, and Matsu will endure a bite with temperatures as low as 8-11 degrees.

Thursday morning recorded Matsu as the chilliest low-lying area with a temperature of 7.7 degrees. On Taiwan’s mainland, New Taipei’s Shiding District experienced temperatures of 10.1 degrees.

To address the severe temperature drop, a cold advisory of orange level was issued specifically for New Taipei and Yilan, advising of the risk of temperatures hitting 6 degrees or remaining under 12 degrees for a duration surpassing 24 hours.

A “yellow” cold advisory was also announced, encompassing the regions of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Kinmen, indicating the potential threat of temperatures descending below 10 degrees Celsius.

On the precipitation front, there is an expectation of sporadic rain in areas north of Taoyuan, in addition to Yilan and Hualien in the east. Mountainous areas in the western part of Taiwan will not be spared, and scattered showers are probable in Hsinchu and Taitung.

These dramatic meteorological events underscore the breath-taking beauty and dynamic nature of Taiwan’s changing climate. They provide both a wonder to behold and a reminder of the continual forces shaping our natural environment.