If a typhoon is affecting your location in Taiwan, follow the Central Weather Administration’s current warnings and your city or county emergency instructions. When local authorities order evacuation from a flood-prone, coastal or landslide-prone area, move early using their designated safe route. Stay away from beaches, river channels, mountain trails and flooded roads. For medical, fire or rescue emergencies in Taiwan, call 119; for police emergencies, call 110.
If you are already in a sound building during dangerous winds, stay away from windows, unsecured objects, balconies and vulnerable roofing. Do not go outside to watch huge waves or photograph flooding, even if other people are doing so. If floodwater is entering your building, seek a safe higher location and call responders when necessary; never move through an electrically hazardous flooded basement. If the building itself is unsafe, follow official relocation instructions. Avoid taking a lift during a power interruption or flood.
Quick answer: A typhoon emergency may develop from CWA forecasts to a sea warning, a land warning, heavy-rain and wind alerts, local evacuation decisions, possible work and class suspensions, then damaging rainbands, floodwater, landslides, coastal waves and power disruption. The strongest wind is not always the main danger. Floods may persist after a typhoon warning is lifted, particularly where water is arriving from upstream. The sequence is not a fixed timetable: Taiwan’s terrain, storm track and rainfall can make one county’s experience very different from another’s.
Ten immediate actions — the checklist first
- Check the current CWA Typhoon Warning and its issuing time, county advisories and expected rainfall.
- Use the Water Resources Agency’s flood warnings for water threats, rather than assuming the typhoon track alone describes flooding.
- If ordered to evacuate, leave early, before roads, bridges and hillside crossings become hazardous.
- Stay away from beaches, sea walls, rivers and streams, especially during large waves, heavy rain or strong currents.
- Never cross floodwater on foot, by motorcycle or by car; drains, road edges and current can be hidden.
- Stop mountain hikes and unnecessary rural travel when rainfall threatens landslides or rockfall.
- Secure balcony objects and loose outdoor items only before hazardous winds begin; do not climb onto a roof during a storm.
- Keep medicines, food, safe water, a flashlight, charged phone and necessary dependent-care items accessible.
- Check official work and class suspension announcements for your exact county or city; do not assume a “typhoon day” is nationwide or automatic.
- For rescue or serious injury call 119; police 110. Continue checking warnings and access restrictions after winds weaken.
Stage 1 — A typhoon develops: what the forecast actually tells you
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) monitors tropical cyclones and publishes forecasts of a storm’s position, path and intensity. Early information helps households decide whether to postpone a mountain trip, secure loose items and identify a safe location. But a forecast path is an estimate, and its apparent centreline is not a boundary outside which damage cannot occur.
Taiwan’s topography is important. Mountain ranges can produce very heavy rainfall on particular slopes as moist air is forced upward. Coastal towns may experience powerful waves and storm-driven water while inland valleys face swollen rivers and saturated hillside cuttings. A forecast that appears to show the centre passing offshore can still correspond to dangerous rain or wind in parts of the island.
The CWA Typhoon Warning page offers track uncertainty, forecast rain and county weather advisories. Read each layer for its intended purpose. A probability graphic should never be converted into a personal guarantee that your neighbourhood has a particular chance of being safe.
Before storm impacts arrive, save information for the city or county in which you are actually staying. Someone in Hualien, Yilan, Taitung, Kaohsiung, Taipei or a mountain township may face different hazards and emergency arrangements. Visitors should learn their hotel’s exact address and a known route to a designated safe location.
Stage 2 — Sea warnings and land warnings: how the official sequence works
Taiwan uses CWA sea warnings and land warnings when a typhoon threatens the relevant regions. A sea warning concerns a forecast threat to Taiwan’s surrounding maritime areas, while a land warning concerns possible impacts on land. Taiwan’s National Fire Agency public education explains the criteria and notes that warnings may be updated more often as conditions change.
These stages help people understand urgency but are not a safe countdown. A storm’s path can change, warnings can be issued together or on short notice, and dangerous rain can fall before the expected arrival of the centre. A sea warning does not mean beaches are safe until a land warning appears.
Keep checking the bulletin’s actual affected area and time. The land warning might name certain counties while other areas face separate heavy-rain alerts. A local government may issue a precautionary evacuation based on flood or landslide risk even where residents are debating whether the strongest storm winds will arrive.
The correct question is not whether the warning headline has reached its final stage. It is whether your immediate road, river, coast or hillside is exposed to the impacts described by the current weather and disaster agencies.
Stage 3 — Before land impacts: prepare a household and evacuation plan
Preparing while conditions remain calm avoids a dangerous rush. Place essential medication, identity documents, a flashlight, spare batteries, a battery radio or charged power bank, safe water, food that requires little cooking and practical footwear where family members can reach them.
The Taiwan Fire Disaster Prevention guide recommends attending to typhoon information, avoiding river and coastal sightseeing, moving out of high-risk locations early, and monitoring official closure and flood messages. Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor also gives practical household precautions, including securing balconies, preparing water and protecting important possessions.
Secure flowerpots, signs and unsecured objects on balconies before winds rise. Keep drains and safe accessible outlets clear as appropriate; do not go onto an unsafe roof or enter a hazardous drain to remove debris. Identify an alternative light source that does not require indoor burning.
A household with someone using a wheelchair, older relative, infant or patient relying on electricity-powered medical equipment should arrange assistance early. If a road or lift becomes unusable, ordinary evacuation may become difficult. Discuss the actual accessible destination with local officials rather than assuming the nearest school is equipped.
Stage 4 — Work and class suspensions: what Taiwan’s official site actually means
A commonly searched question is whether there will be a typhoon day (*颱風假*) with work or classes suspended. Taiwan’s official Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (DGPA) page publishes county and city announcements on work and class status during natural disasters.
These decisions may differ by municipality, township and time. A cancelled class in one district does not mean every school across Taiwan is closed, and a public announcement about government offices does not automatically establish every private employer’s arrangement. Confirm your exact institution’s and employer’s instructions.
Safety comes before the administrative label. A school closure may prevent travel, but a school remaining open elsewhere does not mean a flooded hillside road is safe. Employees should follow official traffic closures and local occupational instructions, not attempt a hazardous crossing because a colleague reports that their office remains open.
For visitors, a typhoon day may affect public facilities, tourist attractions and transport. Check each operator’s current arrangements rather than assuming “Taiwan is closed” or “Taiwan is open” from a national headline.
Stage 5 — Rainbands arrive: threats begin before the eye or centre
Typhoon rainbands can bring heavy rain and wind gusts ahead of the storm centre. In some places, downpours may be the most severe impact; in others, exposed coastal wind or waves dominate. Local radar and rainfall information can help identify areas where conditions are deteriorating.
Avoid unnecessary travel. Turn back before a road is flooded, and do not stop on a bridge to photograph a raging stream. Water that appears knee-deep might conceal a washed-out surface, strong current, an open drain or electrical hazards.
The Water Resources Agency’s flood-warning information provides warnings and related hydrological information. These warnings complement CWA forecasts; they do not replace local instructions from emergency services about which roads and communities need evacuation.
At home, stay inside a sound building when conditions are dangerous. If rainwater starts entering a basement or underground car park, do not go down to save a vehicle or stored items. Flooded underground areas can become traps, and touching a submerged electrical distribution board can be fatal.
Stage 6 — Coastal waves and storm-driven water: do not approach the shoreline
Strong typhoons can generate enormous waves, dangerous currents and high coastal water. The coastal hazard may begin before the strongest winds arrive on land. A sea wall that is a popular viewing location on an ordinary day can become deadly.
Stay away from beaches, harbours, rocky shorelines, sea walls, river mouths and exposed fishing platforms. Do not use a phone camera or social media challenge as a reason to remain near the sea. A single large wave can reach much farther than previous waves.
Taiwan’s fire and police authorities warn against going to watch typhoon waves or fish near the coast during storms. The Kaohsiung City Police Department’s typhoon advice specifically warns residents near rivers and the sea to watch for flooding and coastal surges.
If an official evacuation warning covers a coastal low area, leave along the recognised route. Do not assume upper floors or stronger windows make an exposed property safe from a major coastal inundation or collapse of nearby structures.
Stage 7 — Mountain torrents, landslides and rockfall: the hillside may still be changing
Typhoon rain can saturate steep slopes, weaken soil and generate landslides or debris flows. A mountain road cut into a hillside may be threatened by rockfall from above or by erosion beneath the road edge. A bridge can appear intact while its approach is undermined.
If a local disaster authority warns of landslide or debris-flow danger in your township, follow the evacuation or access restriction. Do not hike into forested slopes to confirm whether a path is open. After days of rain, a brief period without rainfall is not proof of slope stability.
Signs can include sudden cracks, leaning posts or trees, muddy seepage, falling stones and rumbling. But many slides happen with little observable warning; avoid waiting for a visible sign before obeying an official order.
If you are on a mountain road and see fresh debris or cracked pavement, stop at a safe distance and turn back when possible. Do not squeeze a vehicle past a rockfall under an unstable cut slope. A motorbike crossing successfully does not establish the road’s structural integrity for everyone else.
Stage 8 — Strong winds: what happens to homes and city streets
Damaging wind can bring down branches, signs, scaffolding, loose roof materials and other objects. Large windows and glass doors may be exposed to windborne debris. Near high-rise buildings, objects from balconies can become dangerous projectiles.
When winds are already hazardous, do not step onto a balcony or roof to tie something down. Seek a safer interior area away from exterior glass and unstable fixtures. If a building is visibly failing, contact responders and follow their direction to an alternative safe place when movement is possible.
Some typhoons have a calmer eye or short lulls between squalls. A decrease in noise or a moment of sunshine does not mean the danger has ended. Wind may return from a different direction; further rainbands and flooding may follow.
Electricity may fail and mobile networks can become congested. Keep phones charged and use a battery-powered radio when possible. Do not use fuel-powered generators in apartments, garages or indoor spaces; carbon monoxide poisoning can occur even when no smoke is visible.
Stage 9 — Transport disruption: trains, highways, domestic travel and islands
Taiwan’s High Speed Rail, TRA rail services, intercity buses, ferries and airlines can be affected by wind, rainfall and damage to infrastructure. Different operators decide when particular routes can safely run. An administrative typhoon day and a train cancellation are not the same announcement.
Before an unavoidable journey, check the operator’s official website, local government transport announcements and actual road closures. Do not assume a mapping application detects a fresh landslide or flooded underpass.
Travel to smaller offshore islands and exposed coasts may be especially affected by marine conditions. Boats, ferries and tourist vessels should follow authorised port and maritime warnings; no passenger should pressure an operator to sail merely to keep a booking.
Visitors on the east coast or in mountain accommodation should discuss shelter and evacuation plans with their hosts early. A flight scheduled several days later is not a reason to drive through a dangerous river crossing today.
Stage 10 — If you become trapped: practical emergency communication
When calling 119 for fire, medical or rescue help, state the city or county, district or township, street or recognised landmark, number of people, injuries and whether water or falling debris blocks access. If you have a precise location pin, give it when communication allows.
110 is the police number; police may manage traffic, restrictions and related emergencies. Use the appropriate local authority for routine questions about school closures or public transport instead of occupying emergency lines.
If you are isolated on a safe side of a flooded bridge, do not enter the water to obtain mobile signal or assist a stranded person without training. Report the exact location and follow rescue instructions. Moving floodwater can knock people down and conceal deep openings.
If trapped inside a sound building by rising water, move to a safer higher area while keeping an escape possibility, avoid electrical fittings and seek urgent assistance. An enclosed attic with no exit can become dangerous. If the building is structurally compromised, seek situation-specific advice from rescuers rather than assuming any room is safe.
Stage 11 — The warning is lifted: why all-clear for wind is not all-clear for every hazard
A CWA typhoon warning may be lifted after the defined threat area passes, but streams can remain swollen, slopes saturated and roads obstructed. Transport, water, electricity and health services may require separate restoration.
Continue checking heavy-rain and flood notices from CWA, the Water Resources Agency and local authorities. A county lifting work-and-school restrictions is not a structural inspection of your basement, hill road or floodplain.
Avoid exploring rivers and waterfalls after a typhoon to see the high water. Eroded banks and unusually strong currents can remain hazardous. Do not go beneath unstable cliffs or trees to inspect damage.
If officials have evacuated a neighbourhood, do not return until its access restrictions are cancelled. Weather improvement elsewhere does not guarantee that the route to your home is open.
Stage 12 — After the storm: utilities, hygiene and health
Floodwater can contaminate food and drinking-water supplies, damage electrical connections and carry sharp debris. Stay away from fallen power lines, and never turn on wet electrical equipment without professional assessment.
If local water authorities issue a safety notice, follow it precisely. Boiling may kill many pathogens but cannot remove fuel or every chemical contaminant. Where water is unsafe or service is disrupted, use an approved alternative source.
Avoid eating food that has been in contact with floodwater. Wear footwear during cleanup and avoid direct contact with sewage-contaminated water. Seek medical care for significant wounds, persistent diarrhoea, fever or other concerning symptoms.
A generator must be outside, safely separated from doors, windows and vents according to manufacturer and fire guidance. Do not run a generator indoors, in an attached garage or next to an opening where exhaust can enter the building.
For a damaged structure, seek qualified inspection before re-entry. A roof, wall, retaining structure or bridge can appear largely intact while having important structural problems.
Stage 13 — Recovery: schools, farms, businesses and the next event
A typhoon can leave different kinds of damage: urban streets blocked by trees, mountain roads cut by landslides, flooded markets, damaged agricultural fields and interrupted ferry access. Recovery involves more than mopping up rainwater.
Households should photograph damage safely for the landlord, insurer or recognised assistance programmes. Never re-enter a restricted area for property documentation. Schools and employers need to confirm reopening through their own notices and local authority guidance.
Farmers and animal keepers should consult qualified local agricultural or veterinary services about contaminated feed, standing water and damaged farm structures. Work crews should avoid exposed slopes and unsafe electrical or lifting work during recovery.
Families can use the event to review a practical plan: Did everybody know the right official warning channel? Was the safe destination accessible? Could the older relative receive an evacuation message? Were food, medicine and essential documents easy to carry? Which road failed? The answer is a specific improvement, not simply “prepare more”.
Taiwan’s warning system: what each authority does
CWA — Central Weather Administration: typhoon track, rain and wind forecasts, sea and land typhoon warnings, radar and county weather advisories.
Water Resources Agency: flood alerts and relevant hydrological information, including river and low-lying water concerns.
National Fire Agency and local fire departments: emergency rescue, disaster-preparedness guidance and coordination with emergency centres.
City and county governments: protective evacuation, road restrictions and many local disaster decisions.
DGPA — Directorate-General of Personnel Administration: public listing of work and class status during natural disasters; location-specific, not a nationwide automatic typhoon holiday.
119 and 110: emergency rescue/medical/fire and police communications respectively.
These sources must be read together. A forecast describes weather; a flood alert describes water; an evacuation order tells a particular household to move.
A realistic example: a household near a river in eastern Taiwan
A family living near a low-lying river area sees a CWA land warning and heavy-rain forecast. They also consult the local flood notice. One adult prepares medication and a small bag for an older family member; another confirms the designated evacuation site with the township.
A local order asks exposed households to leave. They move while the bridge is still open and do not return when a short calm period arrives. The next day, the county lifts some administrative restrictions, but the bridge remains closed for inspection. The family waits for confirmation. This is a fictional scenario, not a live warning for Hualien, Taitung or another county.
A second scenario: a visitor planning a coastal photograph
A visitor sees spectacular waves on social media and considers going to the harbour. The official typhoon warning indicates marine danger, and local authorities have restricted access. The visitor changes the plan rather than approaching a sea wall. Later, transport services are suspended; the visitor checks the operator’s status instead of attempting a detour through flooded streets.
This illustrates a recurring truth about natural hazards: an opportunity for a dramatic photograph can be a poor reason to enter a place from which emergency services are trying to keep people away.
Seven misconceptions worth correcting
- “A sea warning only affects boats.” Dangerous coastal waves and rain can affect people on shore.
- “No land warning yet means my mountain road is safe.” Rain and terrain hazards may emerge earlier.
- “A typhoon day applies to all of Taiwan.” Work and class announcements differ by local authority and institution.
- “The cyclone’s centreline shows the full danger.” Hazardous rain and wind extend far beyond the centre.
- “I can drive through a shallow flooded underpass.” Road depth, current, drains and electricity may be hidden.
- “Once the storm eye arrives, the weather is over.” Intense wind may return.
- “CWA lifting a typhoon warning means every bridge and slope is safe.” Recovery and access restrictions have separate decisions.
Taiwan typhoon preparedness checklist
- Save the official CWA Typhoon Warning and the WRA flood warning system.
- Check the DGPA work and class status portal for your actual city or county.
- Store 119 for rescue, fire or ambulance and 110 for police emergencies.
- Identify the nearest authorised evacuation site and a route away from flood channels, coast and unstable slopes.
- Arrange appropriate transport and assistance for older adults, children, disabled people and anyone with important medical needs.
- Keep medicine, safe water, food, light, radio, phone power, identification and footwear ready.
- Secure outdoor balcony items and inspect drainage before winds make these activities unsafe.
- Do not drive through flooded roads or enter basement parking as water rises.
- Check official transport and road openings after the storm rather than relying on a navigation app.
- Re-enter damaged premises only after local clearance and qualified assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Taiwan’s sea and land typhoon warnings?
The CWA issues sea warnings for a forecast threat to surrounding maritime areas and land warnings for a threat to land. Both can require protective decisions, and rain or coastal hazards may begin before the later warning stage.
Does a typhoon automatically cancel school and work?
No. Local government announcements and institutional rules determine the actual status. Check DGPA’s current work-and-class listing and your school or employer.
Who should I call for urgent rescue?
In Taiwan, 119 is used for fire, ambulance and emergency rescue, and 110 for police emergencies. Give an exact location and the nature of the danger.
What if I live in a mountain township?
Watch for heavy rain, debris-flow warnings and road closures, follow local evacuation instructions and avoid travel beneath unstable slopes or through narrow channels.
Is a calm interval the end of a typhoon?
No. The eye or a break between rainbands may be followed by more wind or rain. Follow current warnings and the local all-clear.
Can floodwater be safe because I know the road?
No. Current, deep drains and road washouts may be invisible. Do not cross.
Can I return as soon as the CWA warning is lifted?
Not necessarily. Separate flood, landslide, road and building restrictions may remain in force.
Official sources and further reading
- Taiwan CWA — Typhoon Warning and County Advisories: current weather and storm-track guidance.
- Taiwan Fire Disaster Prevention — Sea and Land Warning Criteria: explanation of warning stages and updates.
- National Fire Agency — Typhoon Disaster Response Measures: coastal, river and evacuation precautions.
- Water Resources Agency — Flood Warnings: related flood and river hazard information.
- DGPA — Work and Class Status during Natural Disasters: official local administrative status.
- Kaohsiung City Police — Typhoon Safety and Emergency Numbers: 119, 110, river and road advice.
- Ministry of Labor — Typhoon Precautions: water, supplies and housing preparation.
- eduKateSG — Typhoon in the Philippines: comparison of PAGASA and local disaster-management arrangements.
- eduKateSG — Tropical Cyclone in Fiji: another island-region cyclone warning and safety plan.
- eduKateSG — Landslide in Nepal: how rainfall and saturated slopes create separate mountain hazards.
Reader note — updated 6 November 2026: This is general disaster-safety education, not a live CWA warning, guarantee of evacuation timing or declaration that any road is open. Current CWA, WRA, local government and emergency responder instructions always take priority.