CWB Forecasts Little Rainfall in Spring 春季偏暖雨少難解旱象 止渴望5月梅雨

The latest weather outlook from the Central Weather Bureau indicates that this year's spring will see warmer temperatures and less rainfall. The drought in the south may not be alleviated until the start of the plum rain season in May.

The Central Weather Bureau's weather outlook for the March to May period indicates that temperatures will be normal to warmer than usual during this time and spring rain will be less than usual. In 2022, southern Taiwan's rainfall was less than 40 percent of the historical average. The weather in the south has been sunny nearly every day as of late, and the water situation remains grim. It's not expected to be alleviated until the start of the plum rain season in May.

Chen Yi-liang, Deputy Director, Weather Forecast Center, CWB: “Based on current forecast information, there will be little rainfall in March and April at the minimum. The chances are highest for little to normal rainfall. As for May, by that time the plum rain season will have already started so the forecast for that time is more uncertain.”

Taiwan could be facing its most severe drought in 30 years. The water level at reservoirs in the central and southern regions continues to plummet. Nantou's Wushe Reservoir is at 22.5 percent capacity, while Tsengwen Reservoir is only at 18.2 percent capacity, which is only sufficient for 20 more days. Baihe Reservoir is at 20.9 percent capacity. Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua says the Chiayi-Tainan Plain will be left fallow during the first rice cultivation and the cultivation of miscellaneous crops on other farmland will be progressively reviewed.

Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “We are closely cooperating and coordinating with the Irrigation Agency on the farming of miscellaneous crops, etc. We will pay attention to related requirements.”

Tainan's water alert level was adjusted to "orange" on March 1, which means the supply of water will be limited and industrial users that consume more than 1,000 cubic meters per month will have to reduce their usage by 10 percent. There won't be any rotating of the water supply before the end of April as efforts continue to ensure a stable water supply in Tainan and Kaohsiung.

氣象局發布3到5月天氣展望，預估接下來3個月，氣溫是正常值到偏暖，春雨則是偏少。而回顧去年南部降雨量不到歷史平均的4成，現在進入枯水期，南部幾乎天天艷陽高照，水情吃緊，恐怕要等到5月份梅雨季開始，才有紓緩機會。

氣象局預報中心副主任陳怡良表示：「從目前的預測資料來看，最少3月、4月份似乎是有少雨的，少雨到正常這個機率是比較高，至於5月份的話，其實已經進入到梅雨季，這個部分預測的不確定性是比較大的。」

面對幾乎是近30年來，最嚴峻乾旱，中南部水庫蓄水率持續下探。南投霧社水庫蓄水率22.5%，曾文水庫18.2%，粗估可用再20天，白河水庫則是20.9%。經濟部長表示，嘉南平原一期稻作原本就是休耕，至於其他農田雜作的耕作，也會再滾動檢討。

經濟部長王美花提及：「雜作的耕作等，我們都有跟農水署這邊，有密切的合作配合，這個我們都會注意到相關的需求。」

台南水情燈號已經從3月1日起調整為減量供水的橙燈，每月超過1000度的用水大戶須節水10％，目前力求平穩台南與高雄的供水，4月底前都不會進入分區供水。