Last night, a frontal system passed through along with the southward movement of a cold air mass, causing temperatures to drop sharply. The mountain peaks along the Sacred Ridge of Shei-Pa National Park, located at the border of Miaoli County and Taichung City, were covered in snow overnight. The Shei-Pa National Park Administration and the Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps urged hikers planning to visit during the Qingming holiday to prepare proper winter mountaineering gear and pay attention to safety.
This frontal system brought ample moisture, coupled with the arrival of the cold air mass. Mountains over 3,000 meters in Shei-Pa National Park saw snowfall starting last night. From the Guanwu Recreation Area, the Sacred Ridge of Shei-Pa, stretching from Snow Mountain to Dabajianshan, was blanketed in white overnight.
According to forecast data from the Central Weather Bureau, nighttime temperatures in the Snow Mountain cirque area dropped to between minus 3 and minus 4 degrees Celsius, with Dabajianshan even reaching minus 6 degrees. As the weather gradually turns dry and cold, snow on mountain trails can easily turn into slippery ice. Proper use of crampons, ice axes, or trekking poles and other winter hiking equipment is essential when crossing these areas to ensure safety.
The Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps reported that 401 groups, totaling 1,447 people, applied to enter Shei-Pa National Park for hiking during the Qingming holiday. Although the Shei-Pa National Park Administration lifted its winter season control measures on April 1, 2017, hikers are urged to stay alert to weather changes, carry sufficient winter gear, not overestimate their hiking abilities, and avoid accidents.
(China Times)