Taiwan saw the hottest season in June to August due to influence of strong subtropical high, with seasonal mean temperature of 29.54℃ breaking the original record 29.41℃ of July to September 2017, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). Weather Stations at Tawu (40.2℃), Taipei (39.7℃) and Yushan (23.8℃) recorded their highest maximum temperature this past July, and seasonal rainfall has been significantly below normal, only around 50% of climate mean.
The CWB adds that the unusually strong subtropical high not only caused an early end of Mei-Yu season but also resulted in a typhoon-free July in the west Northern Pacific, another first in recorded history. While 6 typhoons formed in August (slightly more than the period average of 5.6), they were close to land and weak, with short lifespan and little impact on Taiwan.
At the present, the tropical Pacific shows a neutral El Niño condition, which means a weak La Niña is likely to develop next season. The impact of this La Niña on Taiwan is highly uncertain due its weak strength. On the basis of information currently available, temperature of this coming season will likely be above to near normal, and rainfall is expected to be near normal.
As there was insufficient rainfall this past season, and as Autumn marks the beginning of dry season in central and southern Taiwan, the general public would be well advised to conserve water, says the CWB, and to pay attention to the bureau’s one-month and three-month climate outlook, updated weekly and monthly, respectively.