Typhoon 23W (Kong-rey), # 13

by DAVE ORNAUER
October 26, 2024

Kong-rey closes in on landfall over southeastern Taiwan as a possible Category 2-equivalent typhoon. (Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

6:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, Japan time: Kong-rey continues to close in on rendezvous with Taiwan and is forecast to make landfall over the island’s southeast coast at mid-afternoon Thursday as a high-end Category 2-equivalent typhoon, according to Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s latest track.

At 3 a..m., Kong-rey was about 295 miles south-southeast of Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, moving northwest at 12 mph, packing 130-mph sustained winds and 160-mph gusts at center. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 5, the highest possible alert, is raised for the Batanes island group and Signal 4 for elsewhere in northern Luzon and the Babuyan island group. A typhoon warning is in effect for Taiwan; schools and government offices are closed today.

Kong-rey is forecast to make landfall as a high-end Category 2-equivalent system at mid-afternoon Thursday, weaken as it bisects the island due to frictional effects of the mountainous terrain, then curve northeast and skim rapidly south of Japan over the weekend, passing over southern Kyushu late Saturday evening and south of Tokyo at mid-evening Sunday..

JTWC forecast track for Kong-rey =

Model-track guidance and forecast ensembles for Kong-rey = https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/storminfo/#23W

Philippines tropical cyclone wind signals = https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tropical-cyclone/severe-weather-bulletin/1

Taiwan typhoon warning page = https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/P/Typhoon/TY_WARN.html

Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale = https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php?os=vbkn42&ref=app