On July 6, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring a mid- to upper-level low associated with an easterly wave roughly 1,390 km (860 mi) northeast of Guam.

[2] Early the next day, a broad surface low developed and scatterometer passes revealed strong easterly winds to the northeast of the center, which were expected to wrap into the system as it intensified.

Situated to the south of a subtropical ridge, the depression tracked steadily west to west-northwest over a region of high sea surface temperatures and low wind shear.

Additionally, the storm's westerly motion mitigated the negative effects of wind shear and its upper-level outflow greatly improved.

The rate of strengthening surpassed constraints implemented within the Dvorak Technique, a tool used by meteorologists to estimate a cyclone's intensity based on satellite appearance.

Both the JTWC and JMA estimated the system to have attained tropical storm status that morning,[7] with the latter assigning it the name Soulik.

[8][nb 3] Throughout the day, the storm's eye became increasingly defined on SSMIS satellite images and the system attained typhoon status within 24 hours of being named.

[13] Soulik ultimately attained its peak intensity early on July 10 with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a barometric pressure of 925 mbar (hPa; 27.32 inHg).

[14] A substantially larger secondary eye, estimated to be 315 km (196 mi) wide, began forming shortly after Soulik attained its peak on July 10.

[15] This formation of a secondary eye indicated an eyewall replacement cycle was in progress; however, it coincided with the typhoon passing over a small area of very low oceanic heat content and prompted a weakening trend.

[16] The simultaneous occurrence of these two factors greatly hindered reorganization of the system and the weakening trend continued as the typhoon tracked west-northwest toward Taiwan.

[17] On July 11, this trend temporarily abated as Soulik moved over the warm waters of the Kuroshio Current, allowing for structural improvement.

[18] Early on July 12, dry air began to entrain into the northwestern portion of the circulation, suppressing thunderstorm development.

[21] Soulik made landfall near Yilan City northern Taiwan, with estimated winds of 150 km/h (95 mph) between 1800 and 2100 UTC.

A phenomenon known as a lee side jump caused the circulation center to move abruptly west and Soulik emerged over the Taiwan Strait within six hours of landfall.

[5] Though the storm was forecast to remain away from the Philippines, it was expected to enhance the southwest monsoon over western areas of the country starting July 10.

[25] Later that day, PAGASA issued Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) #1 for the Batanes in northern Luzon, indicating expected winds of 45 to 60 km/h (28 to 37 mph).

[40] A national early disaster warning was also put in place that day, with local authorities across the country asked to be on duty around-the-clock.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center also issued a top-level maritime for areas over the southern East China Sea, with waves expected to reach 6 to 10 m (20 to 33 ft).

[42] Skirting the southern Ryukyu Islands, Soulik brought typhoon-force winds to several areas on July 13, with a peak gust of 217 km/h (135 mph) measured in Yonaguni, Okinawa.

Winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph) buffeted Taipei, tearing roofs off buildings, downing power lines, and snapping or uprooting 1,000 trees.

[50] Immediately following the typhoon, power companies deployed approximately 1,600 personnel to restore downed or interrupted transmission lines.

[51] Four days after the storm, a dog and four puppies that went missing in Miaoli County after a flash flood and landslide were found on a cliff side and rescued.