Former Tropical Storm Kong-rey strengthened to a typhoon over the Western North Pacific Ocean southeast of Taiwan on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Kong-rey was located at latitude 17.4°N and longitude 127.6°E which put the center about 690 miles (1115 km) southeast of Taipei, Taiwan.  Kong-rey was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Kong-rey strengthened to a typhoon on Monday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Kong-rey’s circulation.  A circular eye was starting to form at the center of Typhoon Kong-rey.  A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the developing eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Kong-rey’s circulation.  Storms near the core of Kong-rey generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Kong-rey increased as Kong-rey strengthened.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 105 miles (165 km) on the south side of Kong-rey’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center of Typhoon Kong-rey.

Typhoon Kong-rey will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Kong-rey will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kong-rey’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Typhoon Kong-rey will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Kong-rey could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Typhoon Kong-rey will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Kong-rey toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Kong-rey will move closer to Taiwan.  Kong-rey could reach Taiwan later this week.  Typhoon Kong-rey could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Taiwan,