Climate of Taiwan
The Chinese island nation of Taiwan experiences a subtropical climate, heavily influenced by the ocean and the movement of airflows controlling the East Asian monsoon. Summers can feel very hot and humid and are also prone to typhoons, so with this in mind, Frommer's recommends visiting in fall for the cooler and drier weather.
Temperatures in Taiwan vary somewhat with the seasons and are highest during the long summer and lowest during the short winter period. Whatever time you visit, you won't need to pack cold-weather clothing. Overall, the range is not large: Summer monthly averages are around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), while averages in the winter range between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius (59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Figures from Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau reveal that between 1977 and 2009, the average January temperature in capital city Taipei was 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit), rising to 38 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.
Make sure you pack an umbrella or waterproof coat, as you're likely to see some rain in Taiwan. Across the island as a whole, rainfall averages out at around 2,500 millimeters (98 inches) annually, but this figure hides strong regional variations. Northern Taiwan tends to see much higher precipitation --- Keelung on the northern coast experiences an average of 3,755 millimeters (148 inches) --- while the south tends to be drier. The city of Taichung in the southeast receives 1,731.7 millimeters (68 inches) on average each year. Most of this rain falls in the two monsoon seasons, one between October and March and a second between May and June.
Taiwan's climate is prone to extreme weather events, particularly in the summer when storms sweep in from the Pacific. On average, three or four of these storms, known as typhoons, reach Taiwan's shores each year. Most arrive in the period between July and October and originate around the Caroline Islands and the Philippines, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. The typhoons bring extremely wet and windy weather and can cause tremendous damage, including the destruction of crops, flooding and landslides, and can lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera.
Global climate change seems to be affecting Taiwan's climate. Government figures suggest that temperatures in Taiwan have risen by 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last 100 years, twice the rate of rise experienced worldwide. Higher average temperatures around Taiwan are likely to alter weather patterns, probably lowering annual precipitation, which would have a serious impact on the agricultural sector.
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