People should protect themselves from potential harm caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays as the nation enters the summer season, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.
According to the farmer’s almanac, the summer solstice, or xiazhi (夏至) in Mandarin, is to begin today, marking the official start of summer.
Statistics from the EPA showed that, on average, 68 percent of the days in July have a UV index exceeding 11, which is rated as “dangerous” on the UV index scale.
With such a high UV index, people could get sunburned if they are exposed to the sun for only 15 to 20 minutes, the EPA said.
The statistics also showed that 50 percent of the days between May and August have UV indexes greater than eight.
The EPA also advised people to avoid exposure to the sun between 10am and 2pm, when the radiation from the UV rays is the strongest.
Meanwhile, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said the daytime temperature reached 33°C nationwide yesterday.
The highest temperature was 33.8°C in Taipei, 32.6°C in Taichung, 33.9°C in Chiayi and 33.2°C in Tainan.
A foehn wind occurred at 12:37pm in Taitung, with the high temperature reaching 36.2°C.
A foehn wind is a type of warm, dry wind that blows down the side of a mountain range.
Yesterday’s foehn wind was the fourth one in Taitung in the past five days.
CWB forecaster Lin Chi-hui (林智暉) said today’s daytime temperature could still hit 33°C nationwide.
“Chances of afternoon showers are high in the north,” Lin said. “The rain in the mountainous areas could be heavier than over the plains.”
Starting on Wednesday, afternoon showers may occur in the south and a frontal system will approach the nation, Lin added.
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