TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Global temperatures in April reached alarming levels, marking the second hottest April in recorded history with readings 1.51 degrees Celsius (2.72°F) above pre-industrial averages, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA, 氣象署), the island's national meteorological agency, announced on Wednesday (May 21). Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the U.S.-based National Centers for Environmental Information confirmed April's temperatures surpassed the 1991-2020 baseline by 0.6 degrees Celsius (1.08°F).
Locally, Taiwan experienced an average April temperature of 23.4°C (74.12°F), exceeding long-term norms by a modest 0.1°C (0.18°F), with precipitation patterns remaining within typical ranges. Weather officials reported that the year's first four months collectively represent the second warmest January-through-April period in global climate history. Climate scientists now project 2025 will likely rank among the five warmest years since systematic temperature recording began.
Climate anomalies have intensified globally, with northern Thailand recording an unprecedented 42.3°C (108.14°F) temperature spike. Pakistan and India experienced premature summer heat waves, with thermometers registering a scorching 49°C (120.2°F) in some regions. European drought conditions have persisted since February, particularly in Germany, where insufficient rainfall combined with elevated temperatures has reduced the Rhine River to approximately half its normal volume, disrupting commercial shipping operations.
Taiwan's geographic position within East Asia leaves it particularly vulnerable to climate volatility, meteorologists warn. Neighboring Japan recorded April temperatures 0.77°C (1.39°F) above normal, while Hong Kong documented its second-most arid April since measurements began in 1947. The weather administration emphasized the urgent necessity for strengthened carbon reduction initiatives and comprehensive climate response strategies to curb warming patterns while building greater environmental resilience and disaster preparedness capabilities. ◼
