Sea temperatures around Taiwan are 2°C to 3°C higher than the climactic average, stymying sea breezes and driving up temperatures, a meteorologist said today.
In a post on Facebook, former Central Weather Bureau director-general Cheng Ming-dean (鄭明典) shared a map of ocean surface temperatures on Sunday showing higher-than-average values for much of the surrounding region.
The higher temperatures are affecting sea breezes which, paired with a strong Pacific high pressure system, is creating unusually hot and stuffy weather with sunnier skies and low winds, he said.
Photo from Cheng Ming-dean’s Facebook
Meanwhile, much of Taiwan was under heat advisories today, with daytime highs of 37°C likely, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
As of 2:22pm, Taipei, New Taipei City, Taichung and Tainan, as well as Hsinchu, Miaoli, Nantou, Hualien and Taitung counties were under an “orange” heat warning, meaning daytime highs could reach 36°C for three consecutive days.
Changhua County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County were also under “orange” warnings for the daily maximum temperature reaching 38°C.
Taoyuan, Chiayi city and county, and Yilan County were under “yellow” warnings, forecasting daytime highs of at least 36°C.
As of 11am, Taipei's Shezidao (社子島) and Dounan Township (斗南) in Yunlin County had reached 37°C.
Taichung's Dajia District (大甲), Changhua County's Jhutang Township (竹塘), Taoyuan's Lujhu District (蘆竹) and Tainan's Houbi District (後壁) all recorded highs above 36°C.
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