As of 11 a.m. on Monday, the center of Typhoon Krathon was about 210 kilometers southeast of the southernmost point of Taiwan, moving toward Taiwan at about 9 kilometers per hour (kph) with a maximum wind speed of 162 kph near the center. The first wave of land warnings issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) encompass Taitung, Pingtung, the Hengchun Peninsula, and Kaohsiung.
Officials at the CWA predict that Krathon will gradually turn northward starting Tuesday into Wednesday. Global models project that its path may veer slightly west before turning northeast again, causing heavy rain and strong winds to severely impact southern Taiwan. It is expected to further expand and gain strength during the coming days.
Heavy rainfall has kept temperatures hovering around 29-30 degrees Celsius along the east coast and around 32 degrees in the south. However, due to the effect of foehn winds sweeping across the Central Mountain Range, central and northern Taiwan are expected to remain hot, with Miaoli, Taichung, and Changhua potentially experiencing temperatures over 36 degrees Celsius.
The Economic Affairs Ministry and Water Resources Agency have conducted preparation meetings, in addition to inspecting facilities, flood control equipment, watergate pumping stations, and other equipment. Special attention will be paid to the Keelung Valley and other high-risk areas for flooding. The National Defense Ministry has also pre-positioned troops and equipment in low-lying areas for immediate rescue.