TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan experiences sunny to partly cloudy skies on Monday (March 16), with the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) forecasting stable, warm conditions through Wednesday (March 18). Temperatures in Hsinchu's mountainous areas dropped below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F) due to radiative cooling, while daytime highs reached 26 degrees Celsius (78.8°F). The agency urged residents to enjoy the sunny spell while remaining cautious of coastal swells.
The CWA reported that easterly winds will bring scattered rain to Keelung's north coast, eastern Taiwan, and Greater Taipei's mountainous areas. Temperatures will rise to between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius (77°F to 84.2°F) from Tuesday (March 17) to Wednesday (March 18), though mornings and evenings will remain cool. Western Taiwan will experience significant day-night temperature differences, requiring residents to dress in layers.
Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) said the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) will likely intensify from May through July. ENSO is a climate phenomenon driven by wind and sea surface temperature variations over the tropical Pacific Ocean. Lin warned this could produce more intense typhoons forming farther southeast in the Pacific. Taiwan may also face uneven summer rainfall and heightened risk of extreme short-duration rainfall events.
Lin cautioned that a winter ENSO occurrence would weaken the northeast monsoon, potentially resulting in warmer-than-average temperatures. This "warm winter" scenario has a 60% chance of occurring. Residents should monitor weather updates starting Thursday (March 19) as a front approaches, bringing increased moisture and rain chances to northern and eastern Taiwan. ◼
