Adapting to the climate in Taiwan

Focus on June-July-August

Regarding the summer climate, Taiwan is comparable to Cuba (according my friend, an American expat  and 16 year Taiwan resident.)  The sun emits a fierce sweltering heat in regular daylight hours,  I was burned quite severely during a watersport function at a Hsinchu beach.  I should have applied better sunscreen!

In mid-summer, we see almost daily rains with an occasional typhoon.  The typhoon hits the east coast most directly, and fades out by the time it reaches central and northern regions of Taiwan.  For example, a typhoon hit on 8 July 2016.  I was staying in Kaohsiung province, the southwestern region, at that time.

Visible Damage Report:

1.  The wind was strong and knocked over several potted plants and some tree limbs on the sidewalks. 
2.  I heard there was barely any damage in Taipei.  A fellow expat and FB friend posted a photo of a single broken plant... and that was all he noticed.
3.  Taichung did not even wake up from the overnight wind currents.
4.  Taidong, on the eastern seaboard, had a much heavier gust of wind and torrential downpour.

As any tropical islander should, expect to get wet in any season.  Keep an umbrella handy, and a raincoat if you plan to motor your way across sopping wet intersections.  Rubber flip-flops or variants of Crocs are common during rainy days.  One more quick tip...keep a high-absorption hand towel in your backpack.  You may need to wipe off your motorcycle helmet when body heat fogs the face-protector. 

Taiwan's Tropical Rain Considerations:

It's a wonder we don't hear more about landslides from all the water erosion.  Thankfully, Taiwanese environmentalism is a happening thing.  Many fields of study are dedicated to preserving the land and alleviating natural disasters.  When expats consider investing in property, whether for farming or building a home, I hear they usually stick to the western two quadrants.  The mountains in central Taiwan are like a natural windshield from the typhoons.  Taiwan nationals have concentrated in these western cities as well.