First cold snap of winter arrives   Tourists chase snow on Hehuan Mountain   3.5 cm of snow accumulates on Yushan

▲ Snowfall at the Yushan Weather Station.

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The cold snap has made its presence felt, with light snow falling early this morning on Hehuan Mountain. Scattered traces of snow can be seen on the slopes, and tourists have been arriving to play in the snow. Meanwhile, Yushan saw snowfall for three and a half hours this morning, accumulating 3.5 cm of snow.

The first cold snap of winter this year has arrived. On Wuling at an elevation of 3,275 meters along Provincial Highway 14A, people began heading up the mountain in the dark last night, spending the night in their cars in the parking lot waiting for snow. At around 2–3 a.m. this morning, light snow finally began to fall, delighting those who had waited through the night. The Songxue Lodge on Hehuan Mountain under the Forestry Bureau reported that around 6:40 a.m., “sleet” mixed with rain began to fall again, with thicker snow accumulation reaching about 1 cm. However, after 8 a.m., as temperatures rose to around 0°C, the snow stopped and turned into light rain.

About 80–90% of the guests were staying at the Songxue Lodge last night. Upon learning about the snow this morning, they rushed outside to happily play in the snow and take photos. The Cui Feng Police Station of Ren’ai Precinct, Nantou County Police Bureau, said that while the amount of snow this time was small and mixed with rain, only scattered ice and snow remained on the roadside and slopes, with no significant snow accumulation on the road surface. Provincial Highway 14A remains open, and tourists continue to head up the mountain to enjoy the snow.

As for Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan, according to the Yushan Weather Station of the Central Weather Bureau, the temperature on Yushan early this morning was around -1°C. Snow began to fall at 5:15 a.m., with a small and intermittent amount that continued until 8:45 a.m. when it stopped, accumulating about 3.5 cm of snow. The recent snowfall on Yushan and Hehuan Mountain occurred on the 22nd. For Yushan, it was the second snowfall of winter, with snow accumulation once reaching 10 cm; for Hehuan Mountain, it was the first snow, but the amount was small and melted upon landing, leaving no visible accumulation. Yushan’s first snowfall was on the evening of the 20th, with 2.5 cm of snow accumulation. (Source: Central News Agency)