3-5 tropical storms, typhoons may influence Taiwan in 2nd half of 2025: CWA

Taipei, June 27 (CNA) The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Friday that Taiwan is likely to be influenced by three to five tropical storms and typhoons in the second half of 2025, following a relatively quiet first half of the year.

The forecast is close to the historical average, the CWA said at a news conference in Taipei on projected typhoon activity in the coming months.

According to the CWA website, an average of 26.09 tropical storms or typhoons formed annually in the Western North Pacific and South China Sea region between 1958 and 2024, with more than half occurring in July, August, and September.

Chen Yi-liang (陳怡良), director of the CWA's weather forecasting center, explained that during these three months, the two most common storm tracks are one passing between Taiwan and the Philippines, and one turning north over the waters east of Taiwan.

Whether the storms will directly impact the island depends on their actual distance from Taiwan, he added.

The projection follows a first half of the year in which only two storms were observed, lower than the historical average of 4.3.

However, Chen said this was not considered an extreme anomaly, noting that there have been six instances during the same period with fewer than two storms -- three years with only one storm and three with none.

To minimize the potential impact of upcoming storms, the weather agency said it will introduce wind forecasts for coastal towns. Local governments can use the information to decide whether to suspend work and school.