Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Fung-wong

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong Clips Southern Taiwan

Tropical Storm Fung-wong clipped the southern part of Taiwan on Wednesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 23.5°N and longitude 122.5°E which put the center about 140 miles (225 km) south of Taipei, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the northeast at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

The center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong moved across southern Taiwan on Wednesday.  Fung-wong brought gusty winds and locally heavy rain as it moved across Taiwan.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong continued to weaken as it moved across southern Taiwan on Wednesday.  Drier air from Asia was pulled into many parts of Fung-wong’s circulation.  A few thunderstorms were occurring near the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.  Other thunderstorms were located northeast of the center where Fung-wong’s circulation was interacting with a frontal boundary.  There was little upper level divergence.  Since mass was not being transported away from Tropical Storm Fung-wong, the surface pressure was increasing.

The distribution of wind speeds around Tropical Storm Fung-wong was very asymmetrical.  The pressure gradient between a high pressure system over eastern Asia and Tropical Storm Fung-wong was causing a large area of tropical storm winds to the north of Fung-wong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 320 miles (520 km) in the northern side of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) in the southern side of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level trough that is over eastern China.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow across the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear.  In addition, the drier air that is already in the circulation around Fung-wong will suppress the formation of new thunderstorms.  Strong vertical wind shear and the drier air will cause Tropical Storm Fung-wong to continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move over the southern Ryukyu Island.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will bring gusty winds and rain showers to the southern Ryukyu Islands.

Fung-wong Weakens to a Tropical Storm

Former Typhoon Fung-wong weakened to a tropical storm over the South China Sea southwest of Taiwan on Tuesday morning.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 11934°E which put the center about 165 miles (265 km) southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the north-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Former Typhoon Fung-wong weakened to a tropical storm southwest of Taiwan on Tuesday morning.  Drier air from Asia was pulled into the core of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.  The drier air caused many of the thunderstorms in Fung-wong to dissipate.  The dissipation of the thunderstorms significantly reduced the amount of upper level divergence.  Since the upper level divergence pumped less mass away from Tropical Storm Fung-wong, the surface pressure increased.

An upper level ridge over the Western North Pacific Ocean was producing southerly winds that were blowing toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear.  The strong vertical wind shear was blowing the upper part of Fung-wong’s circulation toward the north of the circulation in the lower levels.  Many of the bands in Tropical Storm Fung-wong consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Even though Tropical Storm Fung-wong was weakening, the circulation around Fung-wong was still large.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 275 miles (445 km) in the northern side of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) in the southern half of Tropical Storm Fung-wong.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  The upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean will continue to produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear.  In addition, the drier air that is already in the circulation around Fung-wong will suppress the formation of new thunderstorms.  Strong vertical wind shear and the drier air will cause Tropical Storm Fung-wong to continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fung-wong toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move across Taiwan during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will bring strong winds and isolated heavy rain to Taiwan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong will move across the southern Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday.

Typhoon Kalmaegi Intensifies to Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Kalmaegi intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane east of Vietnam on Wednesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Typhoon Kalmaegi was located at latitude 13.4°N and longitude 113.6°E which put the center about 335 miles (540 km) east-southeast of Quy Nohn, Vietnam.  Kalmaegi was moving toward the west-northwest at 21 m.p.h. (33 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 960 mb.

Typhoon Kalmaegi continued to strengthen on Wednesday as it moved over the South China Sea east of Vietnam.  A small circular eye was at the center of Kalmaegi’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Kalmaegi.  Storms near the center of Kalmaegi 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 Kalmaegi was relatively small. Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Kalmaegi’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Typhoon Kalmaegi.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Kalmaegi was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 12.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 33.1.  Typhoon Kalmaegi was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Delta when Delta hit Louisiana in 2020.

Typhoon Kalmaegi will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours.  Kalmaegi will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge that is over China.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kalmaegi’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  There is drier air to the north of Kalmaegi.  Typhoon Kalmaegi could intensify during the next 18 hours if the drier air remains north of the typhoon.

Typhoon Kalmaegi will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over China.  The high pressure system will steer Kalmaegi toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Kalmaegi will reach the coast of central Vietnam in 18 hours.

The center of Typhoon Kalmaegi is likely to make landfall on the coast of Vietnam near Quy Nohn.  Kalmaegi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to central Vietnam.  Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations.  Typhoon Kalmaegi could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the coast.

Typhoon Kalmaegi will also drop heavy rain over southern Laos, Cambodia, and northern Thailand.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Depression 32W strengthened to Tropical Storm Fung-wong east of Yap.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 9.7°N and longitude 140.6°E which put the center about 190 miles (305 km) east of Yap.  Fung-wong was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.  Tropical Storm Fung-wong is forecast to intensify to a typhoon.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong Nears Southern Ryukyu Islands

Tropical Storm Fung-wong neared the southern Ryukyu Islands on Thursday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 23.3°N and longitude 124.9°E which put it about 110 miles (175 km) south-southwest of Harari, Japan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the north-northeast at13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong was weakening gradually as it neared the southern Ryukyu Islands.  An upper level trough over east Asia was producing southwesterly winds which were blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  There was still a well defined low level center of circulation.  A broken ring of thunderstorms surrounded the center and the strongest winds were occurring near the center of Fung-wong.  Most of the stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands north and east of the center of circulation.  Bands in the southern and western parts of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of circulation.

A high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean and the trough over east Asia will interact to steer Tropical Storm Fung-wong toward the north-northeast during the next 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Fung-wong will move over the southern Ryukyu Islands during the next 24 hours.  The center of the tropical storm could pass close to Miyako Jima in about 12 hours.  Tropical Storm Fung-wong will continue to weaken gradually because of the moderate vertical wind shear.  Fung-wong will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to some of the southern Ryukyu Islands.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Kalmaegi was moving across the South China Sea toward Vietnam.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Depression Kalmaegi was located at latitude 11.5°N and longitude 114.5°E which put it about 550 miles (890 km) east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Kalmaegi was moving toward the west-southwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.  Tropical Depression Kalmaegi could drop locally heavy rain over parts of southern Vietnam during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi Brings Wind and Rain to Northern Luzon

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi brought wind and rain to northern Luzon on Tuesday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center Tropical Storm Kalmaegi was located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 121.2°W which put it about 70 miles (110 km) northeast of Baguio, Philippines.  Kalmaegi was moving toward the south-southwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

Former Typhoon Kalmaegi weakened to a tropical storm before it made landfall on the north coast of Luzon near Aparri.  Kalmaegi was under the western end of an upper level ridge.  The ridge produced strong southerly winds which blew toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds caused moderate vertical wind shear which weakened thunderstorms in the southern half of the circulation.  Drier air from Asia was pulled into the western part of the tropical storm.  The stronger thunderstorms were occurring northeast of the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center in most parts of Tropical Storm Kalmaegi.  A high pressure system over Asia was contributing to a bigger pressure gradient in the northwestern quadrant of Kalmaegi and winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) in that area.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi was dropping locally heavy rain over parts of northern Luzon.  The heavy rain was creating the potential for flash floods.  Kalmaegi will be steered toward the southwest by the high pressure system over Asia. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Kalmaegi will pass near Baguio.  Kalmaegi will continue to weaken as it moves over northern Luzon.  It will move over the South China Sea northwest of Manila.  Tropical Storm Kalmaegi will continue to drop heavy rain over parts of Luzon and the flash flood threat will continue for several more days.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Fung-wong developed east of Luzon on Tuesday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was located at latitude 16.3°N and longitude 127.8°E which put it about 425 miles (685 km) east-southeast of Aparri, Philippines.  Fung-wong was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.  Tropical Storm Fung-wong is forecast to strengthen during the next 36 hours while it moves toward the Luzon Strait.