The Central Weather Bureau said that the temperature in Taipei reached 38.5?C yesterday, adding that this was the fourth time this year that temperatures in the city exceeded 38?C.
Four days of temperatures exceeding 38?C in a year is a record for Taipei since the establishment of the weather observatory in 1896.
Bureau forecaster Lin Chih-hui (林智暉) said that the phenomenon is caused by a strong Pacific high air pressure system, as well as low humidity around Taiwan.
Photo: SAM YEH, AFP
The temperature in the city also tends to be higher due to an urban heat island effect, which happens when the temperature in an urban area is continuously higher than that of rural areas, Lin said.
The temperature in Taipei reached 38.7?C on June 1, 38.2?C on July 17 and 38.5?C on Wednesday, Lin said.
The bureau forecasts that the maximum temperature would drop to 37?C today, adding that it could drop further to about 35?C because of humidity from the south.
While people are less likely to feel extreme temperatures today, Lin said that it would still feel muggy because of the humidity.
Forecasts show that the chance of afternoon thunderstorms are high in mountainous areas, as well as in central and southern Taiwan over the weekend.
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