Taiwan Issues Sea Warning As Fung Wong Nears

Published on Nov 10, 2025, 12:44 pm CST

5 min read

Key points

Taiwan's weather bureau issued a sea warning on November 10 with a land warning likely November 11
Track guidance favors midweek impacts with Wednesday landfall risk and strongest effects in the north and east
Expect rolling airline schedule changes at Taoyuan, Songshan, Hualien, and Taitung, plus selective ferry suspensions
China Airlines posted a typhoon advisory and EVA Air flagged possible disruption
Local governments may suspend work and classes by county using the DGPA framework

Impact

Timing: Sea warning is active as of Monday evening, with a land warning likely Tuesday and peak impacts expected Wednesday
Airports: Watch for preemptive changes at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan, Hualien, Taitung, and potential flow control at Taichung and Kaohsiung
Ferries: Expect suspensions on exposed routes, including recent pauses on Kinmen cross strait services, and possible Green Island, Penghu, and Matsu holds
Airlines: China Airlines and EVA Air advise monitoring flight status and notifications, waivers or flexible rebooking may be posted route by route
What To Do: Move essential trips earlier, avoid tight connections through Taipei, keep wide buffers for rail or coach transfers, and track county closure decisions

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning on November 10, signaling deteriorating marine and coastal conditions as Typhoon Fung Wong curves north toward the island. Forecasters indicated a land warning is likely on November 11 ahead of midweek impacts, with model consensus pointing to a Wednesday window for closest approach or landfall. Travelers should plan for rolling airline schedule changes at Taipei area airports and along the east coast corridors, plus selective ferry suspensions and county level school and office closures.

Central Weather Administration, Taiwan

The sea warning was posted Monday evening after the system crossed Luzon and reentered open water, with the track bending toward Taiwan under a shifting steering pattern. Officials have telegraphed that a land warning is expected on Tuesday as confidence in a midweek impact window increases. Local media and official bulletins have already begun outlining likely effects, including surf and wind hazards along the north and east coasts, and heavy rain bands impacting Taipei, Keelung, Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.

Latest developments

By Monday evening, the weather bureau confirmed the sea warning and said a land warning would likely follow on Tuesday, with Wednesday the most probable day for direct impact. Taiwan News reported the sea warning at about 6:22 p.m. local time on November 10, aligning with CWA timing. Taipei Times coverage likewise noted the evening issuance and the land warning expectation for Tuesday. On the maritime side, authorities in Kinmen suspended cross strait ferries to Xiamen and Quanzhou on November 10 as a precaution, a pattern that often expands to other exposed routes as warnings escalate. On the airline side, China Airlines posted a typhoon notice advising that flights to and from Taiwan may be subject to schedule changes, and EVA Air signaled potential disruptions and urged status checks.

Analysis

Fung Wong's forward speed and size matter for travel planning. Even if the core wind field weakens somewhat after Luzon, the storm's breadth supports long fetch seas and wide rain shields that can degrade operations well before and well after the closest approach. Expect preemptive adjustments on east coast sectors and at airports with terrain constrained approaches. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on the northwest plain is more resilient to crosswinds than some east coast fields, yet it can still see ground handling slowdowns and flow programs if winds or rain intensity exceed ramp thresholds. Taipei Songshan's urban setting and shorter runway can make it more sensitive to crosswind limits. East coast airports like Hualien and Taitung are the most exposed to onshore flow and orographic rain bursts, which can push visibility and wind variability into operational minima.

Ferry planners typically move early. Once sea warnings post, port authorities and route operators assess wave forecasts by corridor. Kinmen's pause is a classic first mover, given its exposure and cross strait requirements. If seas build as projected, the next likely pinch points include Green Island and Orchid Island links from Taitung Fugang, segments in the Penghu archipelago, and Matsu routes into Nangan and Beigan. Keelung and Hualien commercial ports can also meter or suspend certain operations if onshore winds and swell make approaches unsafe.

County by county closure rules are standardized. Under the Directorate General of Personnel Administration framework, work and class suspensions are declared when forecast thresholds for wind and timing are met. This means travelers staying in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung should expect late evening decisions for the following day during the warning phase. These notices ripple into airport staffing, ground transport frequency, and museum or attraction access. Build buffers around first and last mile links, especially if your plan depends on specific bus lines or airport rail intervals.

Background

Taiwan issues two primary typhoon warnings, sea and land. A sea warning covers coastal and offshore hazards and often arrives first. A land warning follows when damaging winds or severe rain bands are expected onshore within a defined window. In parallel, the DGPA publishes a real time map of county level work and class status during natural disasters, which becomes the single source of truth for closures. Airlines post route specific travel advisories and, when warranted, formal waivers that allow free changes within a defined time frame and fare class rules. Ferries operate at the intersection of weather, port state control, and vessel capability, which is why suspensions can vary by corridor and vessel type.

What travelers should do now

Advance critical departures into Tuesday morning if possible. If you are connecting through Taipei, avoid short layovers and consider rerouting through less exposed hubs if your carrier permits it. For east coast itineraries, pencil in a contingency night in Taipei or Taichung to avoid being stranded if Hualien or Taitung cancels flights. For ferry legs, hold refundable lodging and be ready to swap to air if seats are available after the storm. Monitor airline apps for rebooking prompts and check the DGPA closure site after evening updates so you can adjust ground movements accordingly.

Final thoughts

The sea warning sets the stage for a cautious, procedural week of travel in Taiwan. With a land warning likely on Tuesday and peak impacts around Wednesday, the safest plan is to build time into every connection, track airline and ferry notices closely, and let the official county closure map guide your daily moves. The Fung Wong headline is weather, but the story for travelers is planning and buffer.