Taiwan sees hottest year on record in 2024

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Taiwan had its hottest year on record in 2024, with an average temperature of 24.97 degrees Celsius, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Tuesday.

The 2024 average temperature was slightly higher than the previous record of 24.91 degrees set in 2020, and 1.66 degrees above the country's 100-year average from 1901 to 2000, CWA Weather Forecast Center Director Chen Yi-liang (陳怡良) said at a news conference.

The 2024 data was compiled based on temperature records through Dec. 29 at six weather stations used for calculating the 100-year average -- Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Hualien, Taitung and Hengchun.

Moreover, every month in 2024 was hotter than average with the exception of December, which was 0.5 degrees cooler, Chen said.

Meanwhile, Chen said Taiwan's total rainfall volume in 2024 was close to the historical average, but was distributed unevenly.

Specifically, the north coast, mountainous areas around Taipei and the southwest of the country received significantly more rain than usual, while other parts of the country received less, Chen said.

As for typhoons and tropical storms, the 26 that developed in the northwest Pacific Ocean this year were close to the average of 25.4, while the 15 that developed in the fall (September to November) were the third most on record.

Looking into 2025, Chen said that from January through March, the CWA forecasts close-to-average temperatures and normal-to-slightly-low rainfall volume, particularly in the center and south of the country, which is set to experience a dry season over the winter.