For the complexity of island terrain in Taiwan, during the warm season under weak synoptic-scale forcing environment, afternoon thunderstorms are still poorly predicated and faced with rigorous challenges to forecast the distribution of thunderstorms on particular time and place.

In this study, the maximum frequency of afternoon thunderstorms from June to September were identified by using digital satellite IR and surface observations data in warm season from 2007 to 2010 .

Data of hourly satellite IR Brightness Temperature revealed that the development of convective cell at 1100 LST was located in a narrow strip, parallel to the orientation of Snow Mountain and A-Li Mountain, along the lower slopes of the mountains. The minimum average brightness temperature was 1700 - 1800 LST in the afternoon, and maximum temperature gradient was observed at the west slope of A-Li Mountain.

In addition, the data indicated that the sea breezes will blow at right angles to the coastline with convergent direction in the afternoon. In thunderstorm days, before noon the 1100-1200 LST average surface temperature exceeded 32 Celsius degrees. In non-thunderstorm days, the average surface temperature was less then 32 Celsius degrees with offset wind. Significant diurnal variations were found in the surface wind and temperature fields.

The results could provide important information for weather forecasters to improve the real time forecasting of thunderstorms.