The Central Weather Bureau says that Taiwan is in for a relatively warm and dry winter.
The weather bureau said Friday that this autumn has been warmer than usual. In fact it will be the second-warmest fall season in history. However, the sudden arrival of a cold front on November 11 is the earliest cold front to hit Taiwan over the past 40 years.
The bureau forecasts that this winter will see a weaker La Nina effect. With La Nina winters, Taiwan will see warmer and drier conditions than usual. The bureau says that the La Nina effect will continue till next spring.
Other forecasts show that the average winter temperature from December till February next year will be close to normal. December is expected to be the coldest of the three months. The bureau estimates that there will be eight to twelve cold air masses descending on Taiwan this winter, of which one to three may reach the level of a cold spell.
With less rain expected this winter, the bureau is calling for people to save water.