Remembering Typhoon Fung-Wong (2025) 紀念鳳凰颱風

Storm Formation and Path

Typhoon Fung-Wong became a depression on November 3rd, 2025, and was upgraded to a tropical storm on November 6th. On November 7th, it strengthened into a Typhoon. The Typhoon had maximum winds of 215 km/h, making it a solid Category 4. The Typhoon Landed in east-central Luzon Island of the Philippines, only a week after Typhoon Kalmegi, causing flooding, power outages, displacement of over 1 million people, over 27 dead, and over 130 injured.

Early forecast models predicted that the storm would directly hit Taiwan, which it did. When I posted this image on Nov 5th, many netizens did not believe it and called it fake news and told me to take the post down. But this Typhoon was rare in the fact that it followed the predicted track almost exactly.

This was another prediction for the Typhoon. It did not end up being that strong.

Another model predicted the Typhoon would move near Taiwan.

The Typhoon’s track on 11/08.

Probability track on the same day.

Typhoon track on 11/9

Taiwan Typhoon track on 11/9.

While the Philippines was taking the heat from a Category 4 Typhoon landfall, Taiwan was getting a lot of rain.

Satellite track after the Typhoon crossed past Luzon. You can see that the right part of the Typhoon weakened significantly.

The storm circle of the Typhoon also diminished quite a bit after it exited Luzon.

School and work were cancelled in Yilan, Toayuan, Pengu, parts of Hualien, and the mountain areas of Taipei and New Taipei on 11/11.

Originally, the typhoon was expected to make landfall in Kaohsiung on the 12th.

On 11/12, all counties south of Miaoli cancelled work and school except Nantou and Taitung.

View midnight on 11/12.

The storm got a lot smaller and slowed down.

It was downgraded to a tropical storm and landed in southern Pingtung.

Radar view from about the time of landfall.

Another landslide lake was formed along the Matai’an River on 11/12, causing a potential flooding hazard for residents downstream in Hualien.

My Experience

I was in Taipei during this storm. It rained a lot, and there were some strong winds. Other than that, this typhoon was pretty much a dud for Taiwan. I was surprised that Taoyuan and other counties down south got days off, considering that there was barely any rain and winds were mild.

Rainfall Totals

Yilan had the most rain, with over 800 mm falling there.

Radar Track and Satellite Track

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Photos from around Taiwan

The biggest impact of the typhoon was the rain and the landslide lake, as shown above. But there was also a deer that ran into the ocean in Kenting.

The deer was attacked by a pack of wild dogs, which are common in rural Taiwan.

It ran into the ocean, but after rescuers got there, it was weak and died a few hours later, likely due to loss of blood. Full new article here.

This goes to show that not only is the Sika Deer population growing, but also packs of wild dogs run rampant and unchecked in many parts of rural Taiwan. Wild dogs are an issue that many people do not want to address because they love dogs.

Yilan received nearly a meter of rain from the Typhoon, and much of the county flooded on 11/12.

View of Yilan to the east.

View to the south.

Another view of the flooding in Yilan.

Videos From Around Taiwan

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Safety Precautions During a Typhoon

• Secure loose outside objects
• If you live on the first floor of a flood-prone area, move as many valuables and important objects to higher floors as possible.
• Park your car/scooter on high ground
• Avoid going outside for your safety
• Stay out of the mountains
• Stay away from the ocean
• Have enough dry food and water ready for three days (72 hours) in case water and electricity are cut off.

If you follow the above rules, most Typhoons in Taiwan will not be dangerous. Also, most buildings in Taiwan are built with reinforced concrete that can withstand even the strongest winds, so stay indoors and you will be fine.

Conclusion

This Typhoon was a dud for Taiwan. Taoyuan should not have had a day off instead of Taipei. All of Taipei and Keelung should have had the day off, because there was significant rainfall and winds. Also, why did Taitung not call a Typhoon day when it got some of the heaviest rain and wind, while Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin, who got almost no rain, got the day off? Anyway, I hope the overworked populace of Taiwan enjoyed their day off.

Also, it was weird that this Typhoon ravaged the Philippines before steering toward Taiwan. I do not recall any Typhoon doing that during my 11 years living in Taiwan. Usually, it is Taiwan that is ravaged first before the Typhoon heads to China or Japan.

For more Typhoon history, check out our full 2024 Taiwan Typhoon Season post here.