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.
A Nostalgic Kitchen Gadget with Lasting Appeal
Past Events
An inexpensive yet necessary kitchen equipment that has been around since the 19th century is the citrus peeler. With the increasing availability and popularity of citrus fruits, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people started looking for an easy way to peel them. The thick rinds of oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits were easily sliced through by the early citrus peelers, which were frequently constructed of metal and had sharp hooks or blades.
As home cooking became more common around the middle of the 20th century, citrus peelers’ appearance changed. Plastic peelers were first produced by companies such as Tupperware, which gained popularity because to its robustness and user-friendliness. These peelers were more comfortable to hold since they frequently had ergonomic features. These retro peelers’ simplified, vibrant shapes became famous, capturing the inventiveness and optimism of the post-war period.
Application
The main purpose of a citrus peeler is to remove the outer rind of citrus fruits without contaminating the inner flesh. Conventional peelers frequently feature a small blade or pointed end that slices the skin, enabling sectional skin removal. A spoon-like end that lifts the peel away from the fruit is another feature on some peelers.
Citrus peelers have evolved into useful instruments over time. Although they are most frequently used to peel oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, they can also be used to peel other fruits and vegetables with comparable skins, make garnishes, and zest citrus for cooking. Professional chefs and family cooks alike love citrus peelers for their effectiveness and simplicity of use.
History
The durability and ease of use of the citrus peeler have left a lasting legacy. Old citrus peelers, particularly those from the middle of the 20th century, are now sought-after collectibles because of their nostalgic appearance and usefulness. These tools bring back memories of a bygone era when kitchen appliances were made to last and combined design and function in a way that contemporary products frequently try to imitate.
Even with the availability of contemporary kitchen appliances and peelers, the traditional style of the vintage citrus peeler is still in demand. This classic tool is still in use in kitchens all across the world, demonstrating the enduring appeal of well-designed tools. Old citrus peelers are a treasured element of culinary history, valued by collectors and foodies for their unique combination of elegance, history, and utility.
Last Words
It’s astounding to consider the lengthy and fascinating history of something as basic as a citrus peeler. These tiny gadgets, preserved by their classic style and usefulness, are more than just kitchen equipment; they are relics from our culinary history. Thus, the next time you discover one in your drawer, consider it more than simply a piece of metal or plastic—consider it a piece of history that is continuing to function, one orange peel at a time.
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