TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecasts Typhoon Kong-rey will make landfall in east Taiwan on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 31).

The CWA's land warning includes all of Taiwan except for Chiayi, Chiayi County, and Nantou, while the sea warning now includes north, northeast, southeast, and offshore areas, the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and Dongsha Islands. 

As of 9 a.m., Kong-rey was 110 km east of Eluanbi moving northwest at 27 kph carrying maximum sustained winds of 183 kph and 226 kph gusts. Kong-rey has a 320 km radius with Beaufort force 7 winds (50-61 kph).

CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) said Kong-rey is moving fast and is expected to make landfall between Hualien and Taitung in the afternoon before moving out to sea by evening, per CNA.  After Kong-rey makes landfall, the north and east will see heavy rain, while parts of the east could experience torrential rain. 

Extreme torrential rain advisories are in place for Yilan County, Hualien County, and Taichung, while torrential rain warnings are in place for Taipei, New Taipei, and Hsinchu. Extremely heavy rain is expected in Keelung, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Nantou, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, while heavy rain is expected in Chiayi, Chiayi County, and Tainan.

Chu said Orchid Island has already observed force 17 winds, the Hengchun Peninsula 11, Penghu 10, and 8-9 in the north and east. Gusts of over 14 are forecast Thursday for Taitung and Penghu, while New Taipei to Kaohsiung, Hualien, Yilan, and Pingtung’s coastal areas, Hengchun Peninsula, and Matsu could experience gusts above 11. Keelung, Taipei, Nantou, Chiayi, and Kinmen could face gusts of 9 to 10.

Chu added southeastern sea areas near the typhoon’s eye are experiencing 10 to 12-meter-high waves, and 7 to 9-meter-high waves in eastern seas and the Bashi Channel. Waves over five meters are expected across all waters around Taiwan, with eastern coastal areas possibly reaching over 10 meters and over seven meters in Penghu.