Tag Archives: Typhoon Fung-wong

Typhoon Fung-wong Moves over South China Sea

Typhoon Fung-wong moved over the South China Sea on Monday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Typhoon Fung-wong was located at latitude 18.8°N and longitude 118.4°E which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) south-southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  Fung-wong was moving toward the north-northwest at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 969 mb.

Typhoon Fung-wong was weakening as it moved over the South China Sea on Monday.  Even though Fung-wong was weakening, thunderstorms were still developing near the center of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.  Storms near the center of Fung-wong continued to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  However, the removal of mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere was less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels.  So, the surface pressure was increasing.

The circulation around Typhoon Fung-wong was large.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center of Fun-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 300 miles (485 km) from the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.

Typhoon 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 28°C.  It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge that is over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  In addition, drier air from Asia is over the South China Sea.  The drier air will gradually get pulled into the circulation around Fung-wong.  More vertical wind shear and drier air will cause Typhoon Fung-wong to weaken slowly during the next 24 hours.

Typhoon 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 north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Fung-wong will move toward Taiwan.

Typhoon Fung-wong is likely to weaken to a tropical storm before it reaches Taiwan.  Fung-wong will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Taiwan.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Typhoon Fung-wong Hits Luzon

Typhoon Fung-wong hit Luzon on Sunday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Typhoon Fung-wong was located at latitude 16.4°N and longitude 121.3°E which put the center about 25 miles (40 km) east of Bayombong, Philippines.  Fung-wong was moving toward the 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 945 mb.

The center of Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall on the east coast of Luzon between Baler and Casiguran on Sunday.  Fung-wong was the equivalent of a major hurricane when it made landfall.

The circulation around Typhoon Fung-wong was large.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center of Typhoon Fung-wong.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Fung-wong is 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 27.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 47.7.  Typhoon Fung-wong is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Irma when Irma hit Southwest Florida in 2017.

Typhoon 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 northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Typhoon Fung-wong will move across northern Luzon during the next few hours.  Fung-wong will move over the South China Sea.

Typhoon Fung-wong will bring strong, gusty winds and very heavy rain to Luzon.  Heavy rain will cause widespread flash floods.  Fung-wong will cause widespread electricity outages.  Typhoon Fung-wong could also cause a storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) along portions of the coast of Luzon.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move into an environment that will be less favorable for intensification when it moves over the South China Sea.  Fung-wong will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over eastern China.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  However, drier air from Asia has spread over the South China Sea.  The drier air will gradually get pulled into the circulation around Fung-wong.  The drier air is likely to cause Typhoon Fung-wong to weaken slowly when it moves over the South China Sea.

Typhoon Fung-wong Intensifies to Equivalent of a Major Hurricane

Typhoon Fung-wong intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane east of the Philippines on Saturday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Typhoon Fung-wong was located at latitude 14.0°N and longitude 125.8°E which put the center about 190 miles (305 km) east of Daet, Philippines.  Fung-wong was moving toward the west-northwest at 23 m.p.h. (37 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 949 mb.

A circular eye was present at the center of Fung-wong’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 revolving around the core of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Storms near the core generated strong 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 very large.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 110 miles (175 km) in the northern half of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the southern side of Typhoon Fung-wong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 375 miles (605 km) in the northern side of Fung-wong’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) in the southern half of Typhoon Fung-wong.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Fung-wong is 23.6.  The Hurricane Size index (HSI) is 37.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) 60.9.  Typhoon Fung-wong is similar in intensity to Hurricane Katrina when Katrina hit Mississippi in 2005.  Fung-wong is larger than Katrina was.

Typhoon Fung-wong will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 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 air is not likely to be pulled into the typhoon during the next 12 hours.  Typhoon Fung-wong could intensify during the next 12 hours.

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 hit northern Luzon in 18 hours.

Typhoon Fung-wong will be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Luzon.  Fung-wong will bring strong, gusty winds and very 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.

Fung-wong Strengthens to a Typhoon

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.