Taiwan is bracing for a day of extreme heat, with forecasts indicating temperatures could soar to 37°C in certain areas. This heatwave comes ahead of Typhoon Mekkhala’s approach, which is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms later in the week. The Central Weather Administration has noted that most of the island will experience conditions ranging from cloudy to sunny, with daytime temperatures fluctuating between 31°C and 36°C. Specifically, regions north of Taoyuan, the inland areas of central and southern Taiwan, and the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley are likely to see temperatures surpassing 37°C.
Typhoon Mekkhala is anticipated to make its closest approach to Taiwan by Wednesday. Although the storm is not projected to make direct landfall, its outer bands are expected to cause occasional showers and thunderstorms, particularly affecting northeastern and western parts of Taiwan. The southern mountainous areas might also be subjected to localized heavy rains. As of Tuesday afternoon, Mekkhala was situated approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Oluanpi and was moving in the direction of the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. Meteorologists predict that the storm will weaken gradually due to less favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
Once the typhoon passes, a weather front located to the north of Taiwan is likely 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 across the island. The increased cloud cover and precipitation are forecasted to bring a slight relief from the heat, with temperatures expected to drop to around 30°C from Wednesday through Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Higos, which is currently positioned far east-southeast of Taiwan, is charting a course toward Japan. The storm is not anticipated to affect Taiwan, allowing the island to focus on navigating the impacts of Typhoon Mekkhala and the subsequent unstable weather conditions.