Typhoon Kong-rey Has One of Largest Eyes Ever Seen: ‘Absolutely Massive’
Ameteorologist has pointed out the sheer size of Typhoon Kong-rey’s eye as the massive storm approached Taiwan on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Typhoon Kong-rey had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, having weakened from 150 mph when it was classified as a super typhoon. Forecasts predict further weakening as it approaches Kaohsiung, Taiwan, early Thursday morning.
Meteorologist Noah Bergren noted the storm’s unusually large eye, which is one of the biggest ever observed. However, AccuWeather’s Alan Reppert explained that a large eye doesn’t indicate strength; it simply means winds are farther from the center.
Most models show Kong-rey making landfall on Taiwan’s southeast coast, cutting across the island with winds around 75 mph before turning northeast toward the East China Sea. While it’s expected to weaken, strong winds up to 140 mph and heavy rainfall—up to 3 feet—could lead to significant structural damage and landslides in southern Taiwan. Eastern China and Japan are also bracing for heavy rain as the storm progresses.
A typhoon is a severe tropical cyclone in the Northwest Pacific, while the same storm is called a hurricane in the Northeast Pacific and Northern Atlantic.
