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Climate - Taiwan


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack

Flag - Taiwan

Map - Taiwan


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On the island of Taiwan, formerly Formosa, the climate is tropical, with mild winters and hot, rainy summers. The period May-September is very rainy throughout the country because of the summer monsoon, while in the other seasons, rainfall depends on latitude and slope exposure. However, winter is the least rainy season everywhere.

Index


  • The seasons
  • North - Taipei
  • The south - Tainan
  • Mountains
  • Penghu Islands
  • Typhoons
  • Best Time
  • What to pack

The seasons



In winter, the temperature is pleasant in the south, where highs in January are about 23 °C (73 °F), and the sun often shines, while in the north (see Taipei), the climate is cooler and cloudier, with average maximum temperatures about 18 °C (64 °F). Owing to maritime influence and low latitude, night-time temperatures are rarely cold and never drop below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). However, sometimes, there can be very cool days in the north, with highs about 10/12 °C (50/54 °F).
In spring, in April and early May, early thunderstorms begin to occur in the afternoon, starting from the north and the interior. The monsoon arrives on the island around May 10 - May 20, coming from the south. It brings heavy rainfall throughout the island, but especially along the southwest coast, from Tainan to Hengchun, in addition to the highlands of the interior.
Summer is hot, humid and rainy, with more frequent rains (unlike in winter) along the southern coast. The temperatures are uniform from north to south: in July and August, the daily average in the plains hovers around 29/30 °C (84/86 °F). The north-west coast, from Taichung to Taoyuan, experiences a relative decrease in rainfall in July. Since the tropical rains are usually intense but short-lived, the amount of sunshine in summer is acceptable, however, in this season, sticky and unpleasant heat dominates.
During summer, the island is often affected by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of South-East Asia, able to bring strong winds and torrential rainfall; they typically cause heavier damage along the east coast.
After the monsoon, in autumn, from October to December, the rains decrease and the muggy heat is replaced by more pleasant weather conditions. The only area which remains fairly rainy is the east coast, where more than 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain fall per month still in autumn (see Hualien).

The north


Taipei

The capital, Taipei, is located in the northern part of the island, which is the rainiest along with the north-east, and is the coolest in winter. The average temperature ranges from 16 °C (61 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. In summer, the "urban heat island effect", generated in the big city, makes the heat even more unpleasant, but the buildings are fortunately equipped with air-conditioning.
Here are the average temperatures of Taipei.
Taipei - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January141816.2576561.2
February141916.6586662
March162118.7617065.7
April202522.2677772
May232825.5738377.9
June253128778882.5
July273330809285.9
August263329.7809185.5
September253027.7778781.9
October232724.8738076.6
November202421.6677470.9
December162018616864.4
Year20.725.923.2569.378.674

Here 2,400 mm (95 in) of rain fall per year, with a peak in the hottest period, from June to September. Here is the average precipitation.
Taipei - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January853.314
February1706.715
March1807.116
April1807.115
May2349.215
June32512.816
July2459.612
August32012.614
September36014.214
October1505.912
November853.312
December75312
Year240594.7166

However, there is no dry season in Taipei, and the sky in winter is often cloudy. In fact, the winter monsoon, which is originally dry as it comes from the Asian mainland, picks up moisture over the sea and brings clouds, mists and some rain in the northern part of the island. Even in spring, the sun is rarely seen. Overall, Taipei is a dull city: in a year, there are only 1,400 hours of sunshine. Here are the average sunshine hours.
Taipei - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January2.580
February2.570
March390
April395
May3.5115
June4120
July6180
August6190
September5155
October4125
November3.5100
December390
Year3.81405

Along the northern coast, the sea is warm enough for swimming from May to October, while in winter, it becomes very cool, as we can see from the sea temperature near Keelung, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Taipei.
Keelung - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1865
February1865
March1966
April2272
May2577
June2781
July2883
August2882
September2781
October2577
November2272
December2068
Year23.474.1

Taipei

The south


Tainan

As mentioned, winter is warmer in the south, as we can see from the average temperatures of Tainan.
Tainan - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January142318.5577365.3
February152419.4597567
March182622648071.5
April212925.2708477.3
May243127.7758881.9
June263228.9789084
July263329.6809185.4
August263229.2799084.6
September253228.6789083.6
October233126.8738780.3
November202823.6678274.6
December162419.8607567.7
Year21.228.824.9570.183.977

In Tainan, on the south-west coast, 1,700 mm (67 in) of rain fall per year, and the dry season is long, from October to March, while showers begin to increase in April. Here is the average rainfall.
Tainan - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January150.64
February301.25
March401.65
April803.17
May1756.99
June37014.613
July36014.212
August39515.615
September1807.110
October301.23
November150.62
December150.63
Year170066.987

In Tainan, and in general in the south, the winter, in addition to being drier, is also sunnier than in Taipei. In Tainan, there are 2,200 hours of sunshine per year.
Tainan - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6180
February5.5160
March6180
April6175
May6185
June6180
July7210
August6190
September6180
October6.5195
November6175
December5.5175
Year62180

Along the south coast, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round. In winter, however, the air temperature, though mild, is a bit low for swimming and sunbathing, even in the south. Here is the sea temperature in Tainan.
Tainan - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2373
February2373
March2475
April2679
May2781
June2882
July2984
August2984
September2882
October2781
November2679
December2475
Year26.279.2

The mountains



The interior of the island is occupied by mountains. The highest point is Yushan, 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) high, whose name, "Jade Mountain", derives from the contrast created in winter between the snow-capped peak and the sky in the background. Above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), winter is quite cold, and there's some chance of snow and frosts, while summer is cool but very rainy. On the top of Yushan, the average temperature in the winter months is around freezing, while in summer, it is around 8 °C (46.5 °F). On average, precipitation amounts to as many as 3,000 mm (118 in) per year, with a remarkable maximum in summer, while snow is frequent in winter. Here are the average temperatures.
Yushan - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-53-1233730.2
February-43-0.5253731.1
March-251.5284134.7
April084324639.2
May3106.5375043.7
June4128395446.4
July4138.5395547.3
August4138.5395547.3
September4138.5395547.3
October2137.5365545.5
November0105325041
December-361.5274334.7
Year0.69.14.8533.148.440.5

Penghu Islands



To the west of Taiwan, in the strait that separates it from China, we find the Penghu Islands, called Pescadores in the Portuguese era. On these islands, winter is quite cool and windy, and although the rains are not abundant, the sky is often cloudy and a light rain can fall. In contrast, summer is hot, muggy, and rainy, even though the sun shines for a good number of hours.
Here are the average temperatures of the largest city of the islands, Magong (or Makung).
Magong - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January151917.4606763.2
February152017.5606763.5
March172219.9637267.8
April212623.4707974.2
May242926.2758479.2
June263128.1788782.6
July273229.3809084.7
August263229.2808984.5
September263128.3798782.9
October242826758378.8
November212522.8707773.1
December172119.2637066.6
Year21.726.323.957179.375

These islands are not as rainy as the main island of Taiwan, since they receive about 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain per year. Here is the average rainfall in Magong.
Magong - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January200.85
February5027
March602.39
April903.59
May1204.710
June1556.110
July1606.38
August1807.19
September1154.57
October301.22
November200.84
December2514
Year10154084

Although it's the wettest period, the sun shines more often in summer; in fact, in this period, apart from thunderstorms, the weather tends to be good.
Magong - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January3.5110
February3.595
March4125
April5150
May6180
June6.5200
July8.5265
August8240
September7215
October6190
November4.5140
December4125
Year5.62030

The sea temperature, a little cool from December to March, becomes pleasantly warm for swimming in the summer.
Magong - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2069
February2069
March2271
April2475
May2678
June2882
July2883
August2883
September2882
October2679
November2476
December2271
Year24.876.6

Typhoons



As mentioned earlier, Taiwan can be hit by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia; actually, Taiwan is one of the most affected countries, also because the mountains that cross the island create the conditions for torrential rains: it is not by chance that in some places, during the most intense typhoons, a total of more than 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain has fallen in a few days. Typically, typhoons occur in this area from June through October, although they are more frequent from mid-July to early October. Recently, however, perhaps because of global warming, they have sometimes affected the country outside of this period, though without reaching high intensities, as happened with Typhoon Kujira in late April 2003, with Typhoon Chanchu in May 2006, and with Typhoon Nanmadol in early December 2004.

Best Time



The best time to visit Taiwan runs from November to March, since it is the mildest and outside of both the monsoon rains and the typhoon season. The east coast, however, is very rainy still in November.
For a beach holiday at the Penghus, the best time is the summer, although it should be remembered that it is the period when typhoons can affect the area.

What to pack



In winter: pack spring/autumn clothes, a sweatshirt or sweater, a light jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the high mountains, a down jacket, a rain jacket, a hat, gloves, and a scarf.
In summer: pack tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, a light sweatshirt and a light scarf for air-conditioned places, and a light raincoat or umbrella.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
For the high mountains, a warm jacket, a rain jacket, and hiking boots.

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