Typhoon Fung-wong, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Uwan, was a powerful, large, and destructive tropical cyclone that struck the Philippines and Taiwan in early November 2025. The twenty-sixth named storm and twelfth typhoon of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, Fung-wong originated from a broad low-pressure area northeast of Chuuk on November 3. It gradually organized over the following days before undergoing rapid intensification on November 8 under increasingly favorable atmospheric conditions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a typhoon on November 7, and early the next day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) upgraded it to a super typhoon. Shortly after, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed Fung-wong as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon. Shortly before making landfall in Dinalungan, Aurora, on the evening of November 9. After crossing Luzon, it weakened and re-emerged over the West Philippine Sea before recurving towards Taiwan, where it made landfall in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County, as a tropical storm on November 12. Fung-wong then weakened further before dissipating on November 13. It was the first storm to make landfall in Taiwan in November since Typhoon Gilda in 1967, and the second storm to strike Taiwan's western plains in 2025 since Typhoon Danas in July.
Fung-wong made landfall in the Philippines just five days after the deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi had battered central parts of the country, exacerbating recovery efforts. The storm brought widespread flooding and intense winds along its path, particularly across the Bicol Region and Northern Luzon. In total, it caused at least 33 deaths and 52 injuries in the Philippines, mostly from floods and landslides, while one death and 95 injuries were reported in Taiwan. Owing to the significant damages and loss of life it caused, PAGASA later retired the name Uwan from the rotating naming lists and was replaced with Urbano for the 2029 season. In March 2026, the name Fung-wong was also retired from the rotating naming lists by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, with a replacement name to be announced in 2027.
Meteorological history
On November 3, the JTWC began monitoring an area of convection that had developed approximately 300 nautical miles (560 km) northeast of Chuuk. Satellite imagery revealed a consolidating low-level circulation center (LLCC) with displaced cells of convection concentrated mainly on its eastern quadrant. The disturbance was located in a generally favorable environment characterized by weak vertical wind shear of 5–10 knots (9.3–18.5 km/h; 5.8–11.5 mph), moderate equatorward outflow, and warm sea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F). At 18:00 UTC, the JMA classified the system as a tropical depression, citing obscure deep convection but noting favorable environmental conditions. Around 19:30 UTC, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert after observing persistent convection along the LLCC. The next day at 09:00 UTC, the agency issued its first advisory on the system, designating it as Tropical Depression 32W as convection became more organized around the center. Convective banding subsequently began obscuring the LLCC as the system's circulation remained somewhat disorganized with flaring convection.
Throughout November 5, the depression maintained its intensity while drifting eastward, steered by a subtropical ridge to the north. Satellite imagery noted a broad and partially exposed LLCC as the system remained expansive in size. The JMA noted that the system's structure had limited firmness, causing it to maintain its intensity. The JTWC, meanwhile, found the system attempting to gain organization. At 18:00 UTC, the system had become better organized, and the JMA upgraded it to tropical storm status, naming it Fung-wong as it began tracking west-northwestward. At 03:00 UTC on November 6, the JTWC also upgraded the system to a tropical storm, citing deepening convection and steady consolidation. The JMA eventually upgraded Fung-wong to a severe tropical storm due to a favorable environment as it moved west along the southern periphery of a subtropical high. Convective banding wrapped around the center more tightly as the circulation showed signs of consolidation.
The next day, the JTWC reported that deep convective bands had wrapped tightly around the circulation, obscuring the LLCC. At 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC), PAGASA assigned Fung-wong the local name Uwan – meaning "rain" in the Cebuano language, and the replacement for Urduja after its retirement in 2017 – even though the system remained outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as outer rainbands had already begun affecting parts of the country. This marked the second instance on record, after Tropical Depression Romina—which subsequently became Tropical Storm Pabuk—in 2024, in which PAGASA issued a local name before a system entered the PAR. At 15:00 UTC, the JTWC upgraded the system to a typhoon, citing an increasingly favorable environment, with the JMA following suit three hours later. Later that same day, however, the JTWC reported that Fung-wong's structure had become disorganized, noting fragmented upper-level banding. By November 8, increasing wind shear of 25–30 knots (46–56 km/h; 29–35 mph) and cooler sea surface temperatures temporarily slowed further intensification. Nevertheless, strong radial outflow persisted, and deep convection continued wrapping around the center. During the early hours of November 9, the system began strengthening again, prompting the JMA to upgrade it to a very strong typhoon. Satellite imagery showed a cloud-filled, slightly asymmetric eye as the typhoon contended with easterly shear, though continued outflow allowed it to strengthen further while tracking east of Manila.
At 08:00 PHT (00:00 UTC), PAGASA reported that Fung-wong had rapidly intensified into a super typhoon, estimating sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) with gusts reaching 230 km/h (145 mph), along with an expansive diameter of about 1,800 km (1,100 miles). By 09:00 UTC, the JTWC assessed the storm's one-minute sustained winds at 215 km/h (135 mph). At approximately 21:10 PHT (13:10 UTC), Fung-wong made landfall in Dinalungan, Aurora, as a super typhoon. The storm weakened significantly while traversing north-central Luzon before emerging over the coastal waters of La Union by 05:00 PHT on November 10 (21:00 UTC on November 9), with its convective structure already deteriorating. After entering the South China Sea, Fung-wong began curving northwestward along the southern periphery of a subtropical ridge.
By 03:00 UTC on November 10, the JMA downgraded the typhoon to a severe tropical storm as continued land interaction weakened the system. As deep convection pulsed along the western side of the circulation, the JMA assessed the system's structure as lacking coherence. At the same time, the JTWC noted that Fung-wong's forward motion had slowed markedly. At 05:00 PHT on November 11 (21:00 UTC on the previous day), the system exited the PAR while maintaining its prevailing intensity. The JTWC reported that Fung-wong then began accelerating as it rounded a steering ridge to the northeast, though it continued to struggle with reorganization. Subsequent analysis highlighted a pronounced vertical tilt and a ragged appearance, along with increasingly unfavorable conditions including elevated wind shear and falling sea surface temperatures. The JTWC subsequently downgraded Fung-wong to a tropical storm at 09:00 UTC. Satellite imagery later indicated a fully exposed LLCC and a poorly defined eye, with convection having dissipated entirely. The JMA downgraded the system to a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC on November 12. At 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC), the system re-entered the PAR, with PAGASA again classifying it as a tropical storm. At 19:40 TST (11:40 UTC), Fung-wong made landfall in Hengchun Township in Pingtung County, Taiwan as a tropical storm. Continuing northeastward, PAGASA downgraded the system to a tropical depression at 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC). At 00:00 UTC on November 13, the JMA further downgraded the system to a developing low. At 11:00 PHT (03:00 UTC), PAGASA reported that Fung-wong had downgraded into a low-pressure area. At 15:00 UTC, the JTWC issued its final warning while downgrading the system to a tropical depression.
Preparations
Philippines
Highest Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal
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PAGASA started tracking Fung-wong on November 4 as they began issuing tropical cyclone advisories on the then-tropical depression located to the east of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). As early as this advisory, forecasts already indicated that Fung-wong would develop further into a super typhoon (in PAGASA's scale) before making landfall over Northern Luzon. Warning of the storm's wide circulation (around 700 kilometers or 430 miles), PAGASA called on residents to begin preparations as early as November 7, three days before its predicted landfall. Numerous areas were issued TCWS Signal No. 1 at 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC) on November 7. Twelve hours later, Catanduanes, the northern and central portions of Northern Samar, the northeastern portion of Samar, and the northern portion of Eastern Samar were placed in Signal No. 2. At 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC) on November 8, Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, the eastern portion of Albay, the northeastern portion of Sorsogon, and the northeastern portion of Northern Samar were placed in Signal No. 3. Six hours later, Catanduanes was placed in Signal No. 4. As more areas were placed in Signal No. 4, Signal No. 5 was issued for the Polillo Islands, the northern portion of Camarines Norte, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur. As the typhoon traversed Luzon, more areas were placed in Signal No. 5, including parts of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. Eventually, at 02:00 PHT (18:00 UTC the previous day) on November 10, all Signal No. 5 alerts were removed. By 11:00 PHT (03:00 UTC), all Signal No. 4 alerts were removed; all Signal No. 3 alerts were also removed six hours later.
Fung-wong immediately followed the passing of another typhoon in the Philippines just one week prior, Typhoon Kalmaegi. Following damage in the Visayas region as a result of Kalmaegi and with forecasts predicting super typhoon (>185 km/h or 115 mph) intensity with the emergence of Fung-wong, the entire country was placed under a national state of calamity on November 6. Rescue operations for victims of Kalmaegi were suspended beginning November 8. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) estimated that 30.8 million people could be exposed to the effects of the storm. Preparations for Fung-wong started while disaster response from Kalmaegi was still ongoing. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) immediately called for local governments to start preparations, as the Philippine National Police began to activate disaster response plans and prepare response teams. Both agencies implemented forced evacuations in high-risk areas. The Armed Forces of the Philippines suspended its DAGIT-PA field exercises involving its Northern Luzon and Western Commands and deployed personnel to assist in disaster response. The Department of Health went on heightened alert as health supplies containing a number of essential medicines were prepositioned in various regions of Luzon.
By November 8, disaster alertness was on its highest ("red alert") levels for the entire regions of Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, and Calabarzon along with the provinces of Aurora and Northern Samar. By the end of the day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised the red alert over the entire country. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology released a lahar flow advisory over the Bicol Region, anticipating torrential rain causing life-threatening lahar to flow down the channels of the Mayon Volcano. As volunteer radio and civic communication groups were expected to assist in disaster response and relief, the National Telecommunications Commission mobilized its regional offices, which have prepared equipment, facilities, and backup systems. The Department of Social Welfare and Development prepared 2,040,000 family food packs as well as 91,101 ready-to-eat food packs and 314,000 non-food items. The DILG barred local officials from travelling abroad from November 9 to 15. It also urged 17,000 barangays nationwide to launch preemptive evacuations due to the risk of flooding and landslides starting November 8.
By November 9, more than 1,100,000 people across Luzon and Visayas had been preemptively evacuated. Approximately 6,607 passengers, crew, and cargo staff in 86 ports nationwide had also become stranded as sea travel was suspended by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The PCG was also placed on full alert in preparation for the typhoon. Classes at all levels were suspended on November 10 and 11 across all regions of Luzon (Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, NCR, and CAR) and Visayas (Regions VI, VII, VIII, and NIR). Government work was also suspended in all of Luzon and in Eastern Visayas (VIII). The number coding scheme in Metro Manila was also suspended for November 10.