TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall, disrupting its structure, and may weaken to a moderate typhoon by 5 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 31), according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署).
Meteorologists predict the storm will move offshore by 8 p.m., and land warnings could be lifted by midday Friday, except for Matsu, which remains under threat.
Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖), a CWA weather forecaster, warned of destructive winds and heavy rain despite the typhoon's expected weakening.
She warned residents in Hualien and Taitung to prepare for strong winds and continuous downpours while the Yilan mountain area faces the risk of extremely torrential rain. Northern Taiwan will experience intermittent gusts and rain, and coastal areas in the central and southern regions should brace for strong winds.
Orchid Island (蘭嶼), Green Island (綠島), and Taitung have already encountered gusts exceeding level 14. Areas from Penghu, New Taipei, to Kaohsiung, Hualien, Yilan, and Pingtung's coastal regions, Hengchun Peninsula, and Matsu, are experiencing gusts above level 11.
Additionally, the seas around Taiwan and the Bashi Channel are seeing significant waves, with heights over 5 meters, reaching up to 10 meters along the eastern coast and 7 meters in Penghu.