Fung-wong to brush eastern Taiwan with locally heavy rain

While heavy rain from Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong will begin to taper off across the northern Philippines, the risk of localized flooding will shift to parts of Taiwan.

The storm unloaded downpours on northern Luzon on Thursday, affecting areas that are still recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi which caused flooding earlier this week.

Rainfall totals from Wednesday through climbed between 50 and 100 mm (2 and 4 inches) across much of northern Luzon. On Thursday, 134 mm (5.27 inches) of rain fell in Tuguegarao, Philippines.

This magnitude of rainfall in addition to recent downpours will result in a high risk of flooding and also enhance the risk of mudslides.

The weather will improve across the Philippines into Friday as Fung-wong turns northward toward Taiwan.

Much of Taiwan will dodge the worst impacts from Fong-wong; however, the east coast may experience a period of downpours on Friday.

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Fung-wong tracking east of Luzon on Wednesday night, local time. (RAMMB/Himawari-8)

Localized flooding and travel disruptions will be possible in the hardest-hit locations.

As Fung-wong tracks northward to the east of Taiwan, heavy rainfall will also spread over the Ryukyu Islands of Japan into Friday.

Localized flooding and travel disruptions will again be a concern during the heaviest rainfall.

Rough seas could disrupt marine activities from Luzon to eastern Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands.

Weakening is expected this weekend as Fung-wong tracks northward toward Japan and eventually dissipates before any potential landfall.

Despite the expected weakening and dissipation of Fung-wong, tropical moisture may enhance rainfall across southern parts of the country through this weekend, including the Tokyo.