"Severe Tropical Storm" Bringing Heavy Rain to Two Countries
Trami Hasn't Subsided, Yet Kongrey Approaches: "Severe Tropical Storm" Bringing Heavy Rain to Two Countries
International meteorological agencies have classified Typhoon Kongrey as a "severe tropical storm."
According to a weather forecast update at 1:24 PM on October 28 from the Japan Times, a new storm has formed over the western Pacific, named Typhoon Kongrey.
This means that two typhoons, Trami and Kongrey, have struck the Pacific within a week.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that as of 9 AM on October 28, Kongrey was located east of the Philippines with a central pressure of 985 hPa and wind gusts reaching 126 km/h. The storm is moving west-northwest at a slow pace, about 10 km/h.
Meteorologists express concern over Kongrey’s slow movement, as slower-moving storms can strengthen significantly if they encounter favorable conditions such as warm sea temperatures and humid air.
The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts that Kongrey could reach maximum wind speeds of 172 km/h near the storm’s center. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has classified Kongrey as a "severe tropical storm."
Kongrey Expected to Hit Two Asian Nations: Philippines and China
According to Channel News Asia, the Philippines issued a new weather warning on October 28 — just days after Typhoon Trami, the worst storm of the year, struck the country, resulting in 116 fatalities and leaving 39 people missing. Currently, nearly a million people are taking shelter in evacuation centers or with family members after losing their homes or being affected by flooding caused by Trami’s landfall on October 22.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned that Typhoon Kongrey (known locally as Leon) is a severe storm that will bring heavy rain and strong winds, along with rough seas along the country’s eastern coast. By approximately Wednesday, October 30, Kongrey is expected to pass through the northern islands of the Philippines.
With the aftermath of Typhoon Trami still being dealt with, Kongrey’s arrival raises concerns of further flooding in this Southeast Asian nation.
