This summer was the first in Taiwan without a typhoon influencing weather since record keeping began in 1950. Taiwan also faced unprecedented low levels of rainfall and historically high temperatures. That was according to the Central Weather Bureau on Tuesday.
The bureau says this summer was Taiwan’s fifth hottest on record, with temperatures in Taipei hitting historic highs. That was because the cyclical cold front La Niña was weaker than expected, a result of climate change.
Taiwan also saw its second driest year on record, causing droughts throughout the subtropical island. July and August saw an average of 225 millimeters of rain, only 40% of the usual amount. Rain patterns also changed, with short but intense afternoon thunderstorms bringing unusually high amounts of rain to some mountain areas.
Low levels of precipitation were caused by the lack of typhoons. 80% of Taiwan’s rain usually comes from May plum rains or typhoons. With no typhoons making landfall this summer, Taiwan missed out on one of its most important sources of rain.
The bureau expects new weather systems coming from the West and East will bring more moisture and lower temperatures. But it emphasizes strong typhoons could still come in the fall.