On Tuesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that Taiwan’s average winter temperature during the past three months makes it not only the coldest winter since 2011 but also the second coldest since 2000. It was also the fourth least rainy winter season since 1951.
CWA Weather Forecast Center Director Chen Yi-liang (陳怡良) explained that due to strong northeast winds, cold air frequently moved south and kept temperatures persistently cold. The average temperature this winter is 17.84°C, about 0.84 degrees lower than the typical climate average of 18.68°C.
As for rainfall, the amount of rain recorded in the northern and eastern half of the country from December last year to January this year was lower than the climate average and did not return to normal until February. This does not apply to the central or southern parts of the island. As they were affected by active convection from the Philippines and the South China Sea, these areas saw normal to above-average rainfall. However, the average overall rainfall in all regions was still significantly lower, at 190.7 millimeters compared to the average 260.6 millimeters.
The CWA predicts that temperatures and precipitation will return to normal during the next few months. They also announced the addition of a new weather warning for strong winds to be implemented starting in March. Previously, the CWA only issued special reports for gusts level 10 or higher for counties and cities. The new system will use a color code to alert the public if the average wind speed in a given county or city reaches certain thresholds.