Typhoon Noul Approaches Southern China with Heavy Rain and Winds

The approaching Typhoon Noul is set to bring heavy rains and strong winds to southern China, including Hong Kong, this weekend. The region is on high alert as a result, prompting the evacuation of thousands in Guangdong Province and the cancellation of numerous flights.

The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Noul, with maximum sustained winds of 145 km/h (90 mph) near its core on Saturday, is steadily advancing over the South China Sea towards Guangdong’s coastline. The observatory forecasts that Noul might make landfall on Sunday morning near the cities of Huizhou and Shanwei in southern China, potentially bringing showers and gusty winds inland.

Meanwhile, China’s meteorological center also anticipates Noul’s landfall early Sunday. The Hong Kong airport’s website indicated that over 150 flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday, with more possible cancellations. In Hong Kong, as Noul approached, parts of scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed Saturday afternoon, but initial reports show no injuries, according to local police.

Mainland Chinese authorities issued a top-level red typhoon alert Saturday night, while the Hong Kong Observatory raised storm signal number 8, the third-highest alert level in the city’s system. The National Meteorological Center of China predicts that some areas of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian will experience intense rain and strong winds over the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, over 340,000 people had been evacuated from Guangdong province, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. Train services in the province were canceled for Sunday, according to the China News Service.

In Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration noted that Noul would cause rainfall in parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. The storm passed through waters south of Taiwan on Saturday, moving away from the island.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, leading to the evacuation of over two million people. It made landfall on July 11. Another typhoon, Maysak, reached southern China on July 3.