Typhoon Kong-rey brought strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan on Thursday. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Kong-rey was located at latitude 23.6°N and longitude 121.1°E which put the center about 25 miles (40 km) south of Hualien, Taiwan. Kong-rey was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 947 mb.
The center of Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on the east coast of Taiwan south of Hualien early on Thursday. Kong-rey was the equivalent of a major hurricane at the time of landfall. Winds to typhoon force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Kong-rey’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 290 miles (465 km) from the center of Typhoon Kong-rey.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Kong-rey was 20.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 30.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 50.9. Typhoon Kong-rey was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ike when Ike hit Texas in 2008.
Typhoon Kong-rey was producing strong winds over much of Taiwan. Those winds were capable of causing major damage. Kong-rey was also dropping heavy rain over much of Taiwan. The heavy rain in likely to cause flash floods in many locations.
Typhoon Kong-rey will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Kong-rey toward the north-northwest during the next 12 hours. An upper level trough over eastern China will turn Kong-rey toward the north-northeast on Friday. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Kong-rey will move across Taiwan during the next few hours. Kong-rey will move over the East China Sea and it will approach the east coast of China in 18 hours.
Typhoon Kong-rey will weaken today as it moves across Taiwan. Kong-rey is unlikely to intensify when it moves over the East China Sea. Kong-rey will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. However, the upper level trough over eastern China will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kong-rey’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. More vertical wind shear will cause Kong-rey to continue to weaken after it moves over the East China Sea.
Bands on the western side of Typhoon Kong-rey will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the east coast of China. Strong winds and locally heavy rain will affect coastal regions in Fujian and Zhejiang.