Taiwan is bracing for a surge in temperatures today, with predictions of thermometers reaching as high as 37°C in certain areas. This heat wave comes ahead of the anticipated showers and thunderstorms later in the week, brought about by the outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala. The Central Weather Administration forecasts that much of the island will experience a mix of cloudy and sunny skies, with daytime temperatures ranging from 31°C to 36°C. Specific regions, such as those north of Taoyuan, inland areas of central and southern Taiwan, and the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley, may see temperatures surpassing 37°C.
Typhoon Mekkhala, which is expected to come closest to Taiwan on Wednesday, is unlikely to make landfall. However, its outer circulation could instigate sporadic showers and thunderstorms across northeastern and western parts of Taiwan. Additionally, localized heavy rainfall may occur in the mountainous regions of the south. As of Tuesday afternoon, the typhoon was positioned approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Oluanpi, on a path toward the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. Weather officials predict the storm will gradually weaken due to less favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
Following the typhoon’s departure, a weather front located north of Taiwan is anticipated to maintain unstable conditions through Friday and Saturday. This will likely result in periodic rain and thunderstorms in central and northern areas, with scattered showers expected across other parts of the island. The anticipated increase in cloud cover and rainfall is expected to bring down temperatures to around 30°C from Wednesday through Saturday, offering some respite from the intense heat.
In the meantime, Tropical Storm Higos is currently positioned far to the east-southeast of Taiwan. It is projected to head toward Japan and is not expected to have any impact on Taiwan, allowing the island to focus on the weather changes brought by Typhoon Mekkhala.