Tropical Storm Kong-rey, Flooding Threat Philippines to Japan

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

August 27,2013; 9:23PM,EDT

 

Tropical Storm Kong-rey has already brought heavy rainfall to parts of the northern Philippines as the storm passes just northeast of Luzon.
Rainfall amounts in excess of 6 inches (150 mm) have been reported in Laoag with over 4 inches (100 mm) of rain falling in Sinait and across Calayan Island.
Kong-rey is expected to track generally northward over the next couple of days as the heavy rain exits the Philippines and targets Taiwan.
Satellite Image of Tropical Storm Kong-rey, just north of the Philippines on Tuesday, courtesy of UW-CIMSS.
The heaviest rainfall will target the mountains of Taiwan and eastern parts of the island Wednesday into Thursday as Kong-rey slow tracks east of the island. This track will keep any damaging winds off the coast of Taiwan. The greatest threats will be flash flooding and mudslides.
It is possible during this time that Kong-rey could briefly strengthen into a typhoon.
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Kong-rey will interact with a frontal boundary to the north which will cause the storm to track north to northeast on Friday and Saturday. Kong-rey will likely be absorbed into the frontal boundary at this time; however, flooding rainfall will target Japan from Friday into the weekend. Interaction with the frontal boundary will bring an end to any widespread damaging wind threat.
The heaviest rainfall from Kong-rey on Friday will likely be in southern Japan, including Kyushu and southern Honshu. A separate low pressure farther north will soak northern Honshu and Hokkaido with rainfall.
Whatever remains of Kong-rey will then soak much of Japan on Saturday. Due to the rugged terrain of Japan, flash flooding and mudslides will be the greatest threats.