1-2 typhoons expected to form near Taiwan in fall: CWA

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) Taiwan may see one or two typhoons this fall, along with above-average temperatures and rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Friday.

While the forecast number of autumn typhoons is about average, they are more likely to form closer to Taiwan and could bring heavier rainfall in combination with the seasonal northeaster winds, said Huang Chun-hsi (黃椿喜), deputy director of the CWA's Weather Forecast Center.

The prediction is based on historical data linked to La Niña weather patterns, which the bureau expects to develop by fall due to cooler Eastern Pacific sea temperatures, Huang said. Based on past experience, autumn typhoons generally track west or northwest, he added.

However, central and southern Taiwan are still likely to see a dry spell in fall, and the public should conserve water and monitor the CWA's weekly and monthly forecasts, Huang cautioned.

Reviewing the summer of 2025, Huang said it was marked by "more rainfall, less sunshine, and slightly lower temperatures."

Five typhoons, low-pressure systems and southwest currents combined to bring "prolonged heavy rainfall" in July, averaging 767 millimeters nationwide -- the highest for that month since 1951, the CWA said.

As a result, only 333.4 hours of sunshine were recorded in July and August, the second lowest since 1951, according to CWA data. The average temperature for the two months was 28.6 degrees Celsius, just 0.2 degrees below the 1991-2020 average, suggesting global warming continues to influence Taiwan's climate.

Additionally, seven typhoons formed in July, the third-highest number since 1958, the administration said.