《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Taipei sees record-high temperature for this year

Staff writer, with CNA

The temperature in Taipei yesterday set a new high for the year as the mercury hit 36.8˚C at 1:13pm due to a strong high pressure system over the Pacific Ocean, the Central Weather Bureau （CWB） said.

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In neighboring New Taipei City’s Banciao District （板橋）, the year’s high of 35.1˚C was set around noon, the bureau said.

The hot weather is likely to last into today, forecasters said, adding that Taitung County’s Dawu Township （大武） could see temperatures rise even higher due to Foehn winds — warm and dry winds that blow down the sheltered side of mountains into valleys.

However, temperatures could cool down slightly from tomorrow because of the increasing chances of afternoon thunderstorms, the bureau said.

The bureau said on Tuesday that three to five tropical storms or typhoons could strike Taiwan this year, while up to 32 storms might form in the northwestern Pacific.

Based on current analysis, the sea surface temperature over the tropical east and central Pacific shows a warming trend, which indicates that the disruptive weather phenomenon known as El Nino will develop this year, Weather Forecast Center director Cheng Ming-dean （鄭明典） said.

Under the impact of El Nino, tropical storms over the region tend to form far away from Taiwan, which means they are likely to be stronger when they reach the nation, Cheng said.

To get the most up-to-date storm information, check the bureau’s Web site （cwb.gov.tw） or dial 167 for an English-language forecast.

When a storm warning is issued, live weather broadcasts will be available on the bureau’s Web site at 6:40am, 8:40am, 11:40am, 2:40pm, 5:40pm, 8:40pm and 11:40pm daily.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES