Taipei, June 29 (CNA) Taiwan experienced the hottest May since records began with an average temperature of 27.8 degrees Celsius, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said at a virtual press conference Tuesday.

Lu Kuo-chen (???), head of the CWB’s Weather Forecast Center, attributed the warm weather last month to global warming, but did not elaborate further on the issue of climate.

The average temperature in May was 27.8 degrees, 1.8 degrees above average, Lu said, adding that it was the highest average temperature recorded in May since the CWB began keeping records in 1947.

The mercury even remained high during Taiwan’s “plum rain” season, which usually spans from May to June, Lu said.

The average temperature from May 1 to June 27 was the second hottest on record at 28.06 degrees, 1.08 degrees above average, Lu said.

Meanwhile, although the weather remained mostly dry on the island throughout May, Taiwan still received much-needed rainfall over the past month, Lu said.

Overall, the country recorded total rainfall of 447.1 millimeters during the rainy season this year, which was 91.3 percent of the normal figure, Lu noted.

The three major plum rain fronts brought more precipitation in southern Taiwan than in the north of the island over the past two months, and helped to ease the drought there, according to Lu.

Looking ahead, Lu said Taiwan should brace for a hot summer with “normal” rainfall between July and September.

The number of typhoons expected to pass close to Taiwan during this period is likely to be the same as in previous years, Lu said, adding that the island is forecast to be hit by three to four typhoons in the summer months.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel