<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/31/typhoon-kong-rey-taiwan-storm-tracker-weather>
"The biggest typhoon to hit Taiwan in decades has crossed over the island,
leaving behind a path of destruction but minimal reported deaths or injuries.
Typhoon Kong-rey was the largest in size to make landfall in Taiwan since 1996,
and also struck later in the typhoon season, which typically stretches from May
to October, than any other typhoon since record-keeping began in the 1950s.
Kong-rey had been declared a “strong typhoon” by Taiwan’s Central Weather
Administration (CWA) before it made landfall near the city of Taitung on
Taiwan’s south-eastern coast, at about 1.40pm on Thursday.
Although it weakened slightly, the storm maintained typhoon strength as it
crossed Taiwan’s central mountain range and entered the Taiwan strait to the
island’s west. Its outer bands covered the length of Taiwan’s main island and
were still bringing destructive rain and winds well into the evening. Trees,
power lines, and buildings were damaged or brought down, including in the
capital, Taipei, hundreds of kilometres to the north of the storm’s eye. Severe
landslides and flooding were reported, mainly in regions closer to Kong-rey’s
centre.
“It didn’t rain too heavily at first, but suddenly I heard the sound of
flooding, which sounded like thunder or a train passing by,” said one resident
outside a building that had been reduced to rubble.
Workplaces, schools and some transport services were shut across Taiwan on
Thursday in preparation for Kong-rey’s arrival, and authorities had advised
people to stay inside because of the high risk of landslides, storm surges,
destructive winds and flooding, with more than 1.2 metres of rainfall expected.
More than 200 injuries had been recorded as a result of the typhoon by the time
it made landfall, and one person died after the vehicle they were in hit a
fallen tree. Almost half a million homes were without power on Thursday
afternoon.
Storm trackers measured Kong-rey as the equivalent of a category 3 to 4
hurricane. As it approached the coast, reports measured gusts of more than
225kph (140mph) and sustained winds of 183kph near its centre. The large
typhoon – with a radius of more than 320km and an eye of about 64km – prompted
a warning for all of Taiwan’s main and outer islands.
Lanyu Island, which sits off Taitung and was in the direct path of Kong-rey,
reported record high sustained winds of more than 213kph, as well as gusts
above 260kph before wind speed indicators went offline."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
