The weather in Taiwan this autumn is likely to be influenced by one or two typhoons, which are expected to come within 300 kilometers of the country, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Friday.

The forecast number of storms for the September to November period is about average for that time of year, Chen Yi-liang (???), deputy head of the CWB Weather Forecast Center, said at a news conference.

He advised, however, that people in Taiwan pay close attention to the forecasts on the possible combined effects of storms and seasonal northeasterly winds, which could mean stronger winds and heavier rains this autumn.

There is a 30 percent chance of increased average rainfall over the next three months, compared to previous years, and a 50-60 percent likelihood that it will remain the same, Chen said, citing CWB forecast models that took into account factors such as rising sea temperatures in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Meanwhile, the average temperature in Taiwan this autumn is expected to rise slightly or stay the same as in previous years, he said.

According to the CWB, summer temperatures across Taiwan this year were 0.24 degrees Celsius lower than average.

Heavy rains this summer, brought mainly by Typhoon In-Fa and Tropical Storm Lupit, dumped more precipitation on western Taiwan than on eastern areas and helped fill up the country’s reservoirs, Chen said.

So far this summer, there have been eight Pacific storms, lower than the average 10.9 in past years, according to the CWB.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel