Weather Alert: Typhoon Dolphin's Outer Bands Approach Taiwan, Central and Southern Areas Brace for Heavy Rain, East for Föhn Winds; Maritime Typhoon Warning Closely Watched

Taiwan is preparing for the approach of Typhoon Dolphin (Bai Huitun), whose outer cloud bands are expected to bring localized heavy rain to central and southern regions. The storm's circulation is forecast to influence the island from Friday through Sunday, potentially moving closest to Taiwan's northern waters during this period. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have not ruled out issuing a maritime typhoon warning.

From Friday evening through Saturday, western Taiwan may experience intermittent showers, with scattered rain also possible in Yilan. Hualien and Taitung are expected to have mostly cloudy to clear skies. Central and southern areas could see localized heavy downpours from Friday night into Saturday morning. Temperatures are predicted to be around 33 to 35 degrees Celsius island-wide, with some areas possibly reaching above 36 degrees. Localized "fenn wind", hot, dry downslope winds, are possible in Yilan and Hualien.

The typhoon is projected to move westward through Japan's Naha and enter the East China Sea by Friday. Over the weekend, it will continue moving west to northwest in the East China Sea, nearing northern Taiwan. By Monday and Tuesday, it is expected to make landfall on the coast of Zhejiang, China, and gradually weaken. The Central Weather Administration advises the public to stay informed about potential typhoon warnings.

In addition to the rain and wind, high temperatures are a concern. UV index levels are expected to be "very excessive" to "dangerous" in several areas, including Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu. Air quality is also a factor, with the approaching typhoon system potentially leading to pollutant accumulation in central and southern Taiwan due to northwesterly to westerly winds. Air quality is forecast to range from "good" to "orange alert" levels across different regions.