TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Weather Administration announced Wednesday it is collaborating with National Cheng Kung University on an AI-powered model to analyze wave patterns and provide 24-hour warnings for rogue waves.

In November 2013, eight people attending an outdoor class at Yilan’s Longdong Bitou Cape were swept into the sea by a rogue wave, the deadliest such incident in Taiwan’s history, per CNA.

According to NCKU’s Coastal Ocean Monitoring Center, 430 rogue wave incidents have been recorded in Taiwan over the past 25 years, with one-third resulting in deaths. To improve safety, the CWA plans to deploy the warning system in all 16 coastal cities and counties by the end of the year.

Fong Chin-tzu (馮欽賜), deputy director of the CWA’s Meteorological Information Center, said Taiwan is a maritime nation where seaside activities carry unpredictable risks. He added that while the public is encouraged to enjoy the sea, they must also be aware of dangers such as rogue waves, which are among the most common coastal hazards.

Rogue waves occur due to long swells offshore, but unlike weather patterns, their location and timing depend on subtle environmental factors. Without accurate forecasting, simple warnings about long waves are often ineffective.

Fong said the collaboration with NCKU uses high-speed computing to build a coastal abnormal wave forecasting system to deliver early warnings. The system integrates images from shore-based optical cameras with AI analysis to identify abnormal waves. Combined with wave models and AI prediction technology, it estimates the probability of rogue waves within the next 24 hours.

The CWA said the technology was first implemented in June at scenic areas including New Taipei and the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area. The project also involves cooperation with the New Taipei Fire Department to alert the public about dangerous coastal conditions.