TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan braces for dangerous heat as temperatures prepare to climb to 38 degrees Celsius (100.4°F) Friday (Aug. 22). Meteorologist Wu Der-romg (吳德榮) issued urgent warnings through his National Central University (NCU, 中央大學) column. The Central Weather Bureau Taiwan's national meteorological service activated high-temperature alerts across Taipei, New Taipei, and Tainan, advising residents against sun exposure and heatstroke risks.
Wu forecasts the heatwave will persist through Sunday (Aug. 24), with northern regions experiencing temperatures from 22 to 38 degrees Celsius (71.6-100.4°F). Central areas will see 23 to 35 degrees Celsius (73.4-95°F), southern regions 23 to 36 degrees Celsius (73.4-96.8°F), and eastern Taiwan 21 to 35 degrees Celsius (69.8-95°F). Mountainous areas may experience afternoon showers or thunderstorms, while conditions from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28 will feature partly cloudy skies with continued high temperatures and intense ultraviolet radiation.
Southern moisture increases will bring sporadic showers to Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung counties, with thunderstorms occasionally extending into southern lowland areas. Wu clarified that the tropical storm currently positioned near Kyushu Japan's southernmost main island is weakening into a tropical depression. The meteorologist emphasized this system poses no threat to Taiwan's weather conditions.
Weather models track a separate tropical disturbance developing east of the Philippines, with the European ECMWF system indicating passage through Luzon Thursday before entering the South China Sea Friday. The disturbance carries potential for typhoon development as it moves westward. However, the U.S. GEFS model projects the system's path will curve south of Hainan Island toward Vietnam, ensuring Taiwan remains outside the storm's influence. ◼