Taiwan lies in the Western Pacific typhoon belt, with an average of 3-4 typhoons directly affecting the island annually. The typhoon season typically begins in May, peaks in September, and continues through November, with August to October being the most dangerous period.
Taiwan's most destructive typhoons include Typhoon Gus (1959, killing over 1,000) and Typhoon Morakot (2009, causing Taiwan's worst landslide disaster with over 600 deaths in Xiaolin Village). Recent impacts include Typhoon Lupit (2021) and Typhoon Doksuri (2023).
Taiwan's location on a critical typhoon path puts the eastern and southern regions at highest risk. Pre-season government warnings and evacuation orders are standard. The Central Weather Administration provides 24-hour monitoring with 5-7 day advance warnings.
Typhoon risks extend beyond strong winds to include flash flooding and mountain landslides. Taiwan maintains world-class typhoon defense infrastructure, including flood dams and warning systems.