Taiwan sees warmest winter on record: meteorological authority

TAIPEI - Taiwan's meteorological authority said Wednesday the average temperature between December 2018 and February this year was 20.5 degrees Celsius, indicating the warmest winter since records began in 1947.

The winter's average temperature was 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than the historical average, the authority said in a statement.

About 90 percent of the island's weather stations reported the highest temperature on record during the period, it added.

The warmer weather is forecast to continue and less rainfall is expected until May, but rising sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean triggered by El Nino will be weakened, it said.

The rainfall is expected to reach a normal level in May when the island will enter the rainy season, but uncertainties remain, it added.

The water level in many reservoirs started to drop due to limited rainfall this past winter and meteorological authorities called on the public to save water.

Taiwan's crop production has been hit by the mild winter, with tea-planting areas in central and southern parts of the island also affected.