Cold surges during warm winters pose health risksBy Wu Po-hsuan and Esme Yeh / Staff reportersIn response to extreme weather conditions, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are collaborating on an action plan, making “cold-weather adaptation” a key component, the environment ministry said yesterday. People have adapted to warm winters, as temperatures have climbed over the past few years due to climate change, the environment ministry said. The human body has therefore become less responsive to sudden cold temperatures caused by cold air masses or cold waves during warm winters, it said. The health ministry has issued health warnings and self-protection measures to inform the public of the dangers of cold temperatures, the environment ministry said. Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said temperatures in lowland areas could even drop below 6°C today and tomorrow, marking Taiwan’s second significant cold surge of the season, after the surge in early January.

Source: Taipei Times February 07, 2026 17:13 UTC