Taiwan climate zone is subtropical. Because of Taiwan's dramatically topography, the climate varies considerably from one part of the island to another. In most places, typical daytime temperatures are 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
(68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) and only slightly cooler at night. The climate is tropical, marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon(June to August); cloudness is persistent and extensive all year. |
In Taipei the mercury sometimes dips below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) during the winter, but on summer afternoons it can reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Cities south of the Tropic of Cancer, which crosses Taiwan near Alishan, never get that cold; winters in this region are dry and sunny. In many ways, October to March is an ideal season to visit Taiwan. Temperatures in the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu are at least a five degrees lower than those in Taipei.
Rainfall varies hugely from place to place. The wettest spots are certain foothill areas in New Taipei which in a typical year receive almost 6,000mm of precipitation. That’s a lot, but during typhoons parts of Taiwan have been hit with more than 2,000mm of rain in less than 48 hours. Throughout 2012, Taipei got 2,858mm of precipitation. June and August were the wettest months, and there were at least nine rainy days each month. In the south, the wet season is much more pronounced; three-quarters of Tainan’s annual rainfall comes between late May and late August. Taiwan’s minor islands are all quite dry – Kinmen, for instance, got just 829mm of rain in 2012. Each winter, snowfall adds to the beauty of Taiwan’s highest mountains, but seldom in such quantities that skiing is possible. Typhoons are an occasional hazard. Most arrive in late summer, and even if they don’t hit Taiwan head-on, they’re likely to bring heavy rains which can disrupt transportation and make traveling in the mountain inadvisable. |