Typhoon Kong-rey, known as Typhoon Leon in the Philippines, made landfall on October 31st in southeastern Taiwan near Taitung, unleashing a force of extreme winds, torrential rain, and widespread destruction. With peak winds near the Category 2 threshold, Kong-rey barreled through the region, leaving its mark not only on Taiwan but also on the Philippines’ Batanes Islands earlier in the storm’s trajectory. As Taiwan braces itself for Kong-rey’s continuing rainfall and China prepares for possible impacts, the storm’s journey is drawing international attention for its intensity and the damage it has already inflicted.
A Potent Force Hits Taiwan
Kong-rey struck Taitung with overwhelming power, making landfall as a strong typhoon with winds fierce enough to damage infrastructure and bring down trees, signs, and even parts of buildings. Communities in southeastern Taiwan took the brunt of the storm, with winds gusting fiercely and relentless rainfall leading to localized flooding and damage. While Taiwan is no stranger to typhoons, Kong-rey’s scale and strength made it especially challenging.
The storm’s most intense impacts were felt along Taiwan’s eastern side, where the right-front quadrant—the storm’s most powerful sector—pushed inland. Residents reported a sensation akin to “walls of water” and “roaring winds,” which tore through communities with punishing force. Even now, as Kong-rey heads northward, its presence is being felt. With central air pressure at a low 970 hPa, Kong-rey continues to bring torrential rains that threaten to aggravate conditions, particularly as mountainous terrain in northern Taiwan enhances rainfall through orographic lifting.
Batanes Islands Take a Direct Hit
Before reaching Taiwan, Kong-rey battered the Philippines’ Batanes Islands, a small but historically rich province north of Luzon. Residents there experienced some of the storm’s worst impacts, with winds so severe that the Philippines issued a Signal Force 4 alert, indicating an imminent threat to life and property. The storm’s outer eyewall grazed the islands, resulting in widespread infrastructure damage and the tragic collapse of a historic church, a loss that many locals say is heartbreaking. Photos and videos shared by residents reveal scenes of destroyed homes, broken windows, and flooded streets. The picturesque and usually peaceful islands faced a storm of rare magnitude, a shock for an area that often avoids the direct impact of tropical cyclones.
Tracking Kong-rey’s Path North
Kong-rey’s current trajectory shows it moving northward across Taiwan, weakened slightly due to its interaction with Taiwan’s mountainous landscape, yet still delivering significant rainfall and occasional gusts of damaging winds. The typhoon is expected to continue into the Taiwan Strait and skirt along the East Coast, heading toward southeastern China. As it interacts with the cooler air and increased wind shear along this path, meteorologists forecast gradual weakening.
Satellite imagery shows the scale of the storm: Kong-rey sprawls across Taiwan, engulfing nearly the entire island and extending its influence over the Taiwan Strait. Forecast models predict Kong-rey will brush China’s coast, potentially bringing rain to the outskirts of Shanghai before shifting northeastward and expelling moisture toward southwestern Japan. Although it may not bring the strongest winds, the storm’s vast circulation could extend its influence well beyond Taiwan, affecting coastal areas with gusty winds and heavy showers.
A Deluge in Taiwan’s Mountains
In Taiwan, the storm’s relentless rainfall has accumulated quickly, with rainfall totals forecasted to reach 500 millimeters or more by the time Kong-rey exits the region. The country’s mountainous terrain, especially in the north, contributes to what meteorologists call “orographic lifting.” This process occurs when moist air is forced to rise over mountains, cooling and condensing to produce heavy rainfall, sometimes intensifying beyond typical typhoon effects. With Kong-rey’s moisture supply still intact, the northern mountains could continue to see heavy rain until Saturday morning, raising the threat of landslides and flooding.
In Taipei, though spared from the typhoon’s full force, rain and winds remain noticeable. The capital’s residents, though somewhat shielded, are advised to remain cautious and aware of the ongoing hazards presented by the storm. Locals look outside to see rainfall and blustery conditions, even as the eye of the storm tracks northward.
Warning of Potential New Storm Development Near Guam
As the Pacific remains active, meteorologists are now watching another potential tropical system near Guam. Initial projections suggest that, if it forms, it could reach tropical storm strength over the coming weekend. However, Kong-rey’s remnants, along with a cold surge moving southward, might limit the potential storm’s development, likely pushing it northward and eastward rather than towards Taiwan, Japan, or the Philippines. While Guam may experience enhanced rainfall, the system is unlikely to significantly impact other parts of the Pacific.
Community Efforts and Future Precautions
For residents across Taiwan and the Batanes Islands, recovery will be a top priority as they assess damages and rebuild. Taiwan has established a strong storm preparedness system that helped mitigate some of the worst potential outcomes from Kong-rey, though challenges remain in the aftermath. In Batanes, the damage was severe, and assistance will be essential for communities affected by such a rare, direct strike.
As the Pacific typhoon season continues, these storms remind us of the resilience needed to weather such powerful forces of nature. Continued monitoring, preparedness, and community efforts will be critical, as storms are likely to recur as the season progresses.
In the meantime, those in Kong-rey’s path continue to brace for the storm’s residual effects. From Taiwan’s drenched mountains to the resilient Batanes Islands, the impacts of Kong-rey remain a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power.