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, according to the website Zoom Earth. The storm has weakened slightly since Tuesday night, when it was categorized as a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. Forecasts anticipate that Typhoon Kong-rey will weaken further by the time it makes landfall in Kaohsiung in the early morning hours on Thursday.
On Tuesday night, meteorologist Noah Bergren of TV station WOFL in Orlando, Florida, commented on the size of the storm’s eye.
“Super Typhoon Kong-rey is easily one of the largest eye’s in a major tropical system you will ever see on Earth,” Bergren posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Thing is absolutely massive.”
A wave crashes outside of Fugang Harbor in Taitung, Taiwan, ahead of Typhoon Kong-rey on Wednesday. The storm is expected to make landfall in Taiwan early Thursday morning. Annabelle Chih/Getty
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert told Newsweek that having a large eye doesn’t necessarily imply anything about the storm’s strength.
“It just means the winds with it are farther away from the center than if it was a smaller eye,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily have any major defining characteristic of the storm.”
Reppert added that a stronger storm that’s been around longer usually has a wider eye than a newer storm.
Most spaghetti models—or computer models illustrating potential storm paths—show Kong-rey making landfall on Taiwan’s southeast coast and cutting across the island before emerging with maximum sustained winds of around 75 mph. Models indicate that the typhoon will exhibit a northeastern turn away from China, which will take it out to the East China Sea.
Kong-rey’s strength is uncharacteristic for this time of year, The New York Times reported, adding that the typhoon is expected to make landfall equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
Reppert warned that strong winds up to 140 mph with higher gusts could hit southern Taiwan, though the storm is expected to weaken as it moves over the island. An AccuWeather report warned of “significant structural damage, mudslides and landslides” from the storm, as up to 3 feet of rain is expected to lash Taiwan. The storm could either maintain its intensity or strengthen before it makes landfall early Thursday.
Eastern China and Japan also are expecting heavy rain as the storm progresses.
A typhoon is classified as a severe tropical cyclone occurring in the Northwest Pacific. A hurricane is the term for the same type of storm in the Northeast Pacific and Northern Atlantic. Outside of these regions, the storms are called tropical cyclones.
Country singer Toby Keith dead at 62 following cancer battle
We’re heartbroken to confirm the tragic news about Toby Keith, just months after his last performance.Country singer Toby Keith passed away Monday at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer, his family announced on Tuesday, February 6.“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” the statement issued by his family read.“He fought his fight with grace and courage,” it continued. “Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”The Should’ve Been a Cowboy singer was disclosed the news of having cancer in June 2022. Back then, he posted on his social media and left his fans devastated and praying for his well-being.“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery,” he said in a June 2022 post on X (formerly Twitter). So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.“I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait. -T.”
Keith was probably one of the most famous names in country music.Along with establishing a very successful career, he could also brag with an impressive family life.
Throughout his life, and especially throughout his battle with cancer, his wife of forty years, Tricia Lucus, was by his side.
The two met at a bar while he and his band were performing and they spent the night dancing together. At the time, Lucus was a 19 years old working as an oil company secretary and had a child she was raising on her own.
Speaking of Keith, she said that what attracted her to him was that “he was one of those larger-than-life guys, full of confidence.”
The couple tied the knot on March 24, 1984, after three years of dating. Keith adopted Lucus’ daughter and the two had children on their own.
Even before his diagnosis, Keith was an advocate about cancer research and in 2016 he established the Toby Keith Foundation to help provide children with cancer with housing for free.
At the People’s Choice Country Awards last September, where he received the Country Icon Award, the country singer icon shared insights into his treatment journey, describing it as a “roller coaster” experience.
His loss is immense. The world of music lost a legend, but his legacy would continue to live on. His resilient spirit would continue to inspire many more generations. May he rest in peace.
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