Tomorrow's Weather: Typhoon Kujira to Form Soon, Shirato Approaching Taiwan! 'These 2 Days Most Affected' – Heavy Rain Expected, Full Week Forecast Revealed

The Central Weather Administration has released the latest typhoon update, stating that a tropical depression over the sea east of the Philippines is expected to strengthen into this year's 21st typhoon, 'Kujira', by late tonight (2nd) or early tomorrow morning. However, due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions for development, it is forecast to weaken back into a tropical depression by Tuesday (4th) and merge into the circulation of Typhoon 'Shirato', which has weakened to a moderate typhoon. The Administration warns that due to the outer circulation of 'Shirato', localized heavy rainfall will affect mountainous areas in northern Taiwan starting Saturday (8th), and long-period swells will gradually impact coastal areas.

Tomorrow's Weather: Latest Update on Dual Typhoons! 'Kujira' Expected to Form Tonight, 'Shirato' Approaching Ryukyu Islands – Taiwan to Face Heavy Rainfall from August 8

According to data from the Central Weather Administration, 'Shirato' has weakened to a moderate typhoon this afternoon, with its center located approximately 3,120 kilometers east of Taipei, moving northwest at 22 kilometers per hour. The average radius of its 7-level gale-force winds extends up to 320 kilometers, indicating a very broad circulation.

Weather forecaster Liu Pei-Teng from the Administration noted that 'Kujira', expected to form tonight, will have a short lifespan and may weaken back into a tropical depression by Tuesday (4th), with its moisture merging into 'Shirato’s' circulation.

Regarding 'Shirato’s' future path, international models predict a stable movement toward the Ryukyu Islands before August 6. However, after the 6th, two major path divergences emerge:

Westward continuation: Passing through the sea north of Taiwan, resulting in a more significant impact on Taiwan.

Northward turn: If the Pacific high-pressure system weakens, the typhoon will slow down and shift slightly northward toward Korea.

The Administration emphasized that the later trajectory remains uncertain, and whether a typhoon warning will be issued requires close monitoring.

Potential path of Typhoon Shirato. (Image: Central Weather Administration)

One-Week Weather Outlook: Moisture Increases from August 4. Heaviest Impact on August 8–9 – 'Northern Mountainous Areas Beware of Heavy Rain'

Taiwan’s weather over the next week will be influenced by the outer cloud bands and circulation of the typhoon. The Administration has released the following rainfall trend timeline:

· Monday to Tuesday (August 3–4): Mostly cloudy to sunny across Taiwan. Hot weather continues, with localized areas in Greater Taipei, Taoyuan-Hsinchu, Changhua, Yunlin, southern counties (Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung), and Hualien expected to reach temperatures above 36°C.

· Tuesday to Thursday (August 4–6): Increasing moisture. Surface winds shift from northerly to northwesterly, bringing localized brief showers to northern and northeastern regions, with mountainous areas at risk of localized heavy rain. From early morning to late morning on the 6th, isolated brief showers may also occur in central and southern regions.

· Friday (August 7): Outer cloud bands of the typhoon approach. Northern areas will see localized brief showers, while central and southern regions experience scattered brief showers. High temperatures across Taiwan will slightly decrease due to rainfall.

· Saturday to Sunday (August 8–9): The most significant impact as the typhoon and its outer circulation directly affect Taiwan. Northern regions and mountainous areas in central Taiwan face localized heavy rain, with northern mountainous areas at risk of localized torrential downpours.

Additionally, the Administration warns that due to subsidence effects from the typhoon, foehn wind conditions may occur in Yilan on Thursday and Friday (6th and 7th) and in the Hualien-Taitung region on Saturday (8th).

Long-Period Swell Warning Expanded! Northern Keelung Coast and Eastern Taiwan to See Swells Starting August 4

Due to the broad typhoon circulation, coastal long-period swells will expand daily:

· Starting August 4: Long swells first appear along the northern Keelung coast, eastern Taiwan (including Lanyu and Green Island), and the Hengchun Peninsula.

· Starting August 6: Matsu region added to the affected areas.

· Starting August 8: Further expansion to coastal areas of central and northern Taiwan and Penghu Islands. The public is urged to exercise caution when visiting coastal areas.

One-week rainfall trend. (Image: Central Weather Administration)

Item / Time Meteorological Dynamics and Specific Impacts

Typhoon 'Kujira' Expected to form late tonight to early tomorrow morning; weakens on the 4th due to unfavorable conditions and merges into 'Shirato'.

Moderate Typhoon 'Shirato' 7-level gale radius of 320 km; moves toward Ryukyu before the 6th, then path diverges (westward toward Taiwan or northward toward Korea).

August 4–6 Weather Northern and northeastern areas see localized brief showers, mountainous areas at risk of heavy rain; temperatures slightly drop from the 5th.

August 8–9 Weather Outer circulation hits directly; northern regions and central mountainous areas face heavy rain, northern mountainous areas at risk of torrential rain.

Foehn Wind Alert Yilan on the 6th and 7th; Hualien-Taitung on the 8th.

Long-Period Swell Warning Starting August 4: Keelung north coast, eastern Taiwan, Hengchun; August 6: expands to Matsu; August 8: expands to central-northern and Penghu coasts.