CNA file photo

Taipei, June 29 (CNA) There could be three to five tropical storms affecting Taiwan from now to the end of the year, which is higher than the average for this period, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Friday.

So far this year, seven storms have formed in the northwest Pacific, higher than average, said Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣), director of the bureau's Weather Forecast Center.

In addition, storms that threaten Taiwan could be stronger than in previous years due to a developing El Nino episode, he cautioned.

Under the El Nino effect, the location in which storms form will move eastward compared with other years, which means that when they strike Taiwan, they will be more powerful because they will have soaked up more moisture, according to Lu.

Taiwan could also see higher-than-average rain in July and below-average rain in August and September, Lu added.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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