The nation’s average temperatures have risen 1.5°C over the past century, a joint research project led by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) showed.
In the report to the legislature’s Transportation Committee yesterday, the CWA said extreme temperatures would become more common, with fewer spring showers.
Plum rains are expected to become more intense, it said, adding that there would be fewer typhoons affecting Taiwan, but those that do would be stronger and bring more rain.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
The agency said it is still developing its next-generation severe weather monitoring system to improve predictions.
The Water Resources Agency (WRA) is also developing a drought warning system that has monitoring stations across the country with a resolution of 1km, it said, adding it would be able to provide drought forecasts one to three months in advance.
There would be new shoreline wind forecasts this typhoon season to assist local governments in deciding when to cancel work and school, the CWA said.
Severe rain forecasts are updated every three hours, and a warning system is also in place to send notifications when flash flooding is likely in mountainous regions, it said.
In related news, the WRA said that a weather front brought 19.08 million cubic meters of precipitation to reservoirs across the nation over the past three days, mainly in northern Taiwan.
From 7am on Friday to 7am yesterday, Sinshan (新山水庫), Shihmen (石門水庫), Feitsui (翡翠水庫) and Baoshan Second (寶二水庫) reservoirs, and Yuanshan Weir (鳶山堰) in the north collected 9.9 million cubic meters of rainwater, with Feitsui Reservoir receiving the most at 3.9 million cubic meters, WRA data showed.
Sinshan was at 92.7 percent capacity yesterday morning, Feitsui was at 75.4 percent, Shihmen was at 28.3 percent and Baoshan Second was at 36.9 percent.
In central Taiwan, Yongheshan (永和山水庫), Mingde (明德水庫), Liyutan (鯉魚潭水庫), Deji (德基水庫), Hushan (湖山水庫), Sun Moon Lake (日月潭水庫) and Wushe (霧社水庫) reservoirs received 8.6 million cubic meters of rainwater, with Deji Reservoir collecting the most at 2.8 million cubic meters.
As of yesterday morning, the Liyutan, Deji and Sun Moon Lake reservoirs were at 33.6 percent, 55 percent and 73.5 percent capacity respectively.
In the south, the Zengwen (曾文水庫), Wushantou (烏山頭水庫) and Nanhua (南化水庫) reservoirs received a total of 500,000 cubic meters of rainwater, and were at 79.1 percent, 43.3 percent and 37.5 percent capacity respectively.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old