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.
“How is This Possible?” Controversial Couple’s Pregnancy News Sparks Disbelief
Cheryl McGregor, a 63-year-old grandmother, and her 26-year-old husband Quran McCain are thrilled to announce they are expecting their first child together. The couple, who have amassed a massive social media following, shared the exciting news with their fans in a recent video.
After facing several hurdles, the Georgia-based couple revealed that their surrogate is now pregnant. “It’s finally happening, we’re starting our family,” McGregor shared in the video, her excitement palpable.
The couple explained that despite McGregor being able to provide a viable egg, they opted for a unique path to parenthood. Their surrogate became pregnant using McCain’s sperm, and the couple plans to adopt the child from the biological mother upon its birth. “We’re very excited about it,” McGregor said, adding, “We can’t wait!”
This new addition will make McGregor a mother of eight – she already has seven children in their 30s and 40s, as well as 17 grandchildren. However, the road to this latest family expansion has not been without its challenges.
Last year, the couple’s initial surrogacy attempt was fraught with heartache after the surrogate allegedly breached their contract by having unprotected sex with her partner while the egg was being fertilised. “It just feels like we’re always getting screwed over,” McCain said at the time.
Reflecting on their journey, McCain noted, “At the moment it does feel like people are reaching out to us for the wrong reasons. We’re completely broke. We don’t get paid for our content. And then the surrogate goes and bleeds us dry.” He shared how they had supported their first surrogate financially, only to have the process fall through.
In spite of their trials, the couple’s relationship has remained strong since they reconnected in 2012. McCain first met McGregor while working in a fast food restaurant managed by her son Chris. Romantic feelings blossomed years later after McCain comforted McGregor when she faced negative comments on a TikTok video.
As news broke about Cheryl McGregor and Quran McCain’s surrogacy journey, social media users expressed a mix of surprise, curiosity, and well-wishes:
- “How is this possible?” questioned one user, echoing the confusion of many about the unconventional pregnancy announcement.
- “Congrats, but how?” another comment read, highlighting the curiosity surrounding the 63-year-old grandmother’s path to parenthood with her 26-year-old husband.
- One follower admitted their shock, sharing, “My jaw dropped….”
- Another fan asked what was on everyone’s minds: “IS THIS REAL?!”
The pair began posting videos together, documenting their relationship milestones — including McCain’s romantic proposal at an Olive Garden restaurant in July 2021. Now, their latest chapter will see them become parents together for the first time.
As the dust settles on this controversial couple’s surprising pregnancy announcement, we’re reminded that love knows no boundaries. Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on 16 famous couples who proved that age is just a number when it comes to matters of the heart.
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