Turning now to the weather. We''re in store for a mild weekend, but bundle up for another wintry week after that. The Central Weather Bureau says the cold air mass that''s hanging over Taiwan will weaken starting Saturday. Most parts of the island can look forward to sunny skies and balmy weather. But keep those winter coats handy, because another cold front is due to sweep in next Monday.

It’s a chilly Friday morning, and locals are bundled up in down jackets and scarves. A continental cold-air mass combined with the effects of radiative cooling brought this week’s lowest temperatures in the early morning. In low-lying parts of Nantou County, temperatures dipped to 7 degrees. But the cold air mass will weaken over the weekend, bringing the mercury back up.

Liu Yu-chi
CWB forecaster
On Saturday and Sunday, that strong continental cold-air mass will weaken. On Saturday, we will see the greatest reduction in atmospheric moisture. Only the eastern half of Taiwan and the mountains around Taipei are likely to see occasional rainfall. The weather elsewhere should remain stable.

But warm weather is expected only for the weekend, as another front is expected to pass through on Monday. Taiwan can expect cold, wet weather next week, as the front combines with northeasterly winds and moisture from southern China. In particular, the northern and eastern parts of the island will turn damp and chilly, with lows dipping to 14 degrees. Central and Southern Taiwan will see temperatures of between 12 and 20 degrees. Atmospheric moisture will be highest Tuesday and Wednesday, when the air will feel particularly chilly.

Liu Yu-chi
CWB forecaster
The weather in Northern Taiwan will feel noticeably cooler, and by Tuesday, it will be cloudier with temperatures dropping throughout the country. After Monday, we will be impacted by northeasterly winds, and the weather will turn slightly cooler. The chance of rainfall in the upper and eastern halves of Taiwan will increase.

Head out on the weekend and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. By Monday, it will be time to bundle up again.