[REVISION HISTORY]

Unstable weather and heavy rain in Taiwan

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-23 10:51 UTC → 2026-08-23 14:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Taiwan continues to face unstable weather driven by southwest monsoon winds and low-pressure zones. While temperatures in northern and eastern regions have reached up to 36 degrees Celsius, the Central Weather Administration has warned of intermittent showers and thunderstorms across the island. An annual spring tide between August 13 and 15 raised concerns regarding high water levels and seawater intrusion in low-lying coastal areas from Keelung to Taitan and from Chiayi to Pingtung. By August 22, heavy rainfall from the low-pressure zone and southwest monsoon caused significant flooding in southern Taiwan, particularly in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. The Central Weather Administration issued heavy rain warnings for 17 counties, placing Kaohsiung and Pingtung under high-alert status for torrential downpours. In response, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung suspended work and classes. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qi-mai activated a Level 1 emergency response center to inspect flood prevention facilities, including retention ponds and pumping stations. Local flooding has impacted transportation, with reports of submerged vehicles and cordoned-off roads. As conditions intensified, some areas in Kaohsiung recorded 684 mm of rain over three days, nearly half of the city’s annual average. Authorities have evacuated 2,615 people in Kaohsiung and deployed 137 mobile water pumps. In Pingtung, 115 people were evacuated as roads closed due to landslide and debris flow risks. Tainan also deployed hundreds of mobile pumps to manage flooding in low-lying areas. Emergency services and the military are assisting with disaster response efforts. Meteorologists continue to monitor Typhoon Sandal (also referred to as Shadel), which is located near Guam. While models show varying paths, including potential turns toward Japan or South Korea, some suggest a westward movement toward Taiwan or near northern Taiwan. The system has the potential to intensify into a strong typhoon as it approaches the Ryukyu Islands around August 26. ~~Due to ongoing threats, authorities in Kaohsiung implemented precautionary road closures on highways such as the Taiwan Provincial Highway 20 due to risks of landslides and poor visibility.~~

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