As intense heat grips Taiwan, temperatures are expected to soar to as high as 37°C in certain areas today. However, relief may come later this week with the approach of Typhoon Mekkhala, which is anticipated to bring showers and thunderstorms to the island. Most regions will experience a mix of cloudy and sunny skies, with the Central Weather Administration predicting daytime temperatures to hover between 31°C and 36°C. The hottest temperatures, surpassing 37°C, are likely in the northern parts of Taoyuan, the inland areas of central and southern Taiwan, and the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley.

Although Typhoon Mekkhala is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan, its outer bands are projected to brush past the island on Wednesday. This interaction is likely to induce occasional showers and thunderstorms in the northeastern and western parts of Taiwan, with the potential for heavy rainfall in the southern mountainous regions. As of Tuesday afternoon, the typhoon was positioned approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Oluanpi, advancing toward the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. Weather experts anticipate the storm will gradually weaken due to less favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions it will encounter.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Mekkhala’s passage, a weather front positioned north of Taiwan is set to maintain unstable weather conditions through Friday and Saturday. This will likely lead to intermittent rain and thunderstorms affecting central and northern Taiwan, while the rest of the island could see scattered showers. The increased cloud cover and precipitation are expected to bring a slight drop in temperatures, reducing them to around 30°C from Wednesday through Saturday.

Meanwhile, another tropical system, Tropical Storm Higos, is currently located far to the east-southeast of Taiwan. Its trajectory is predicted to take it toward Japan, and it is not expected to have any significant impact on Taiwan. Residents and visitors are advised to stay informed about the latest weather updates as these tropical systems progress.