Tropical Storm Fung-Wong Recap: 3 Feet of Rain Reported

Tropical Storm Fung-wong, known as Mario in the Philippines, lashed Taiwan with extremely heavy rain and blustery winds as it tracked from east of the Philippines to off the Chinese coast near Shanghai. 

Fung-wong formed September 18, 2014 just east of the Philippines and moved across northern parts of that country, where the storm was called "Mario."

Extremely heavy rainfall was reported on the main northern island of Luzon. Baguio recorded 470.5 mm (18.52 inches) of rain in the 48 hours ending 8 a.m. on September 20. Farther south, the Science Garden in Quezon City reported 443.2 mm (17.45 inches) of rain in that same 48-hour period.

Flooding was reported in Manila where at least 37,000 people have been displaced according the the Associated Press.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the Philippines has reported 11 deaths as well. Fung-wong was the second of a series of storms to impact the area; earlier in the week, parts of the Philippines were impacted by Typhoon Kalmaegi.

(MORE: Kalmaegi Impacts the Philippines | Kalmaegi Recap)

According to track data from the Japan Meteorological Agency as well as the U.S. military's Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong crossed the southern tip of Taiwan the morning of September 21 and then moved north-northeast just off the island's east coast.

At least eight other locations in Pingtung County and adjacent Taitung County, on the east coast of Taiwan, have reported over 500 millimeters (20 inches) of rain.

Rain moved into the capital city of Taipei in northern Taiwan Sunday night but was not as heavy as farther south; as of 5:30 a.m. local time Monday, the capital had recorded 143.0 millimeters (5.63 inches) of rain.

Heavy rains of this magnitude are not at all unusual in Taipei, which averages 14 inches of rain in the month of September but has seen September rainfall totals vary wildly in recent years, from barely 2 inches in September 2011 to nearly 38 inches in September 2008, when Taiwan was slammed by Typhoon Sinlaku and Typhoon Jangmi just two weeks apart.

Gusty winds also lashed Taiwan. The offshore island of Lanyu reported a sustained wind of 77 mph with a peak gust of 127 mph early Sunday afternoon, September 21, according to CWB data.

On September 22, Fung-wong began its approach towards China. As of early September 23, the center of Fung-wong was just northeast of Shanghai off the Chinese coast. Sustained easterly winds in Shanghai reached 36 mph that morning at Pudong International Airport, which is right on the coast. Gusts reached 47 mph.

Stronger winds and heavier rain were reported south of Shanghai. A gust of 75 mph was reported at the Shipu synoptic observation site along the coast. Dinghai, near Shanghai, reported nearly 7 inches of rain in 24 hours.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Tropical Storm Fung-wong September 2014