Taiwan is bracing for a day of sweltering heat, with temperatures anticipated to soar up to 37°C in certain areas. This heatwave is expected to precede the arrival of Typhoon Mekkhala’s outer bands, which are set to bring showers and thunderstorms later this week. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has predicted mostly cloudy to sunny skies across much of the island, with daytime temperatures ranging from 31°C to 36°C. Particularly hot conditions are expected in regions north of Taoyuan, the inland areas of central and southern Taiwan, and the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley, where temperatures could exceed 37°C.
Typhoon Mekkhala is projected to approach Taiwan most closely by Wednesday, although it is not expected to make direct landfall. Nevertheless, the storm’s outer circulation is likely to cause intermittent showers and thunderstorms in northeastern and western parts of Taiwan. Additionally, localized heavy rainfall may occur in the mountainous regions of the south. As of Tuesday afternoon, Typhoon Mekkhala was positioned approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Oluanpi, advancing toward the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. Weather officials anticipate that the storm will weaken gradually due to less favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
Following the departure of the typhoon, a weather front located north of Taiwan is predicted to maintain unstable weather through Friday and Saturday. This will bring periodic rain and thunderstorms to central and northern regions, while scattered showers are expected elsewhere on the island. As a result of the increased cloud cover and precipitation, temperatures are expected to dip to around 30°C from Wednesday through Saturday.
In the meantime, Tropical Storm Higos, which is currently situated far east-southeast of Taiwan, is forecast to head toward Japan. It is not expected to have any impact on Taiwan, offering some relief amid the ongoing weather challenges. Residents are advised to stay informed of the latest weather updates and prepare accordingly for the changing conditions this week.