Winter resembles the cold months of southern Texas. It is definitely chilly, but gets down right cold with the dampness and drafts. In lieu of the temperatures necessary for snow, Taiwan has steady, freezing drizzle that is just as teeth chattering as any wind-blown snowdrift. This is especially true if you commute by motorcycle. Rule of thumb: follow the advice of all those mall-clerks and accessorize! Lots of layers, gloves, scarves and boots are as effective here as they are in Vancouver. All the aforementioned are readily available here at reasonable cost. If you want to bring a heavy coat, make sure it is going to be worth the transport. Odds are you will only use it for three months of the year, at the outside, four. On the other hand, a good coat is going to be necessary for a greater part of the calendar if you want to ride a motorcycle or scooter. Not only does a quality jacket retain warmth, but more importantly provides protection from "road-rash" and minor bumps and bruises.