Former Tropical Storm Fung-wong strengthened to a typhoon east of the Philippines on Friday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Typhoon Fung-wong was located at latitude 12.1°N and longitude 134.6°E which put the center about 325 miles (525 km) north of Palau.  Fung-wong was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 982 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Fung-wong strengthened to a typhoon on Friday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.  Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern half of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Bands in the northern half of Fung-wong consisted primarily of showers and thunderstorms.  Storms near the center of Fung-wong generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Typhoon Fung-wong was large.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) in the northern side of Typhoon Fung-wong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the southern half of Fung-wong’s circulation.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is east of the Philippines.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  There is drier air to the north and west of Typhoon Fung-wong.  However, that drier is will not be pulled into the typhoon during the next day or so.  Typhoon Fung-wong will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong is likely to strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane during the weekend.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Fung-wong will be northeast of Samar in 24 hours.  Fung-wong will reach northern Luzon in 48 hours.

Typhoon Fung-wong will be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Luzon.  Fung-wong will bring strong, gusty winds and heavy rain to Luzon.  Heavy rain will cause widespread flash floods.  Typhoon Fung-wong could also cause a storm surge of up to 14 fee (4 meters) along portions of the coast of Luzon.