TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The cold, wet weather that hit Taiwan on Thursday is expected to continue through the weekend.

Central Weather Bureau reports strong winds, bouts of heavy rain and low temperatures will plague most of the island until Monday, when temperatures will begin to rise again.

Residents in some areas of the country woke up to temperatures as low as 10 degrees Celsius today. Low temperatures in Tainan City (台南市) and the north of Taiwan averaged between 11 and 14 degrees, while Taitung (台東) and Kaohsiung (高雄市) reported lows of between 15 and 17 degrees.

The adverse conditions are due to a continental air mass, the Central Weather Bureau states.

Associate professor at National Central University’s Atmospheric Sciences department Wu Te-rung (吳德榮) said heavy rain may come in spurts over the next few days and some areas will be subject to thunderstorms. Northern and central regions are likely to be most affected by the violent weather, he added.

Heavy clouds and rainfall will mean much of Taiwan remains cold and damp until Sunday, when the rain begins to ease off and temperatures slowly rise, Wu said. Skies will be partly cloudy but mostly sunny on Monday, and daytime temperatures noticeably warmer.

Wu warns citizens there will still be a significant temperature drop in the late evening.