The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Monday that Tropical Storm Kong-Rey appears to be moving westward, expanding, and gaining strength, making it a greater threat to Taiwan. The outermost edge of the storm will begin to affect Taiwan on Wednesday, with the storm circle projected to cover the entirety of the island on Thursday and Friday.
As of Monday morning, the maximum wind speed near the center of Kong-Rey was about 100 kilometers per hour, with a wind radius of about 220 kilometers. As it travels over the waters southeast of the country, it is expected to expand to up to 280 km, eventually making landfall in the Taitung area then turning northeastward. The CWA may issue land and maritime typhoon warnings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rainfall is expected to intensify as the week progresses, especially in northern Taiwan. As Kong-Rey passes over the Central Mountain Range, it should weaken significantly, but wind and rain throughout the central and southern regions will persist. Any weather warnings would likely be lifted by Saturday.
According to the CWA’s typhoon records, if Kong-Rey’s path does not divert and it does indeed make landfall in Taiwan in coming days, it would be the first tropical storm to do so in the month of November since 1958.