Typhoon Noul is causing severe weather in southern China, including Hong Kong, during the weekend. The storm has prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands in Guangdong province, where the region is on high alert. Many flights have been canceled.
Hong Kong’s Observatory reported that Noul has intensified, with maximum sustained winds reaching 90 mph near its center. The typhoon is currently moving across the South China Sea, edging closer to Guangdong’s coast.
The observatory forecasts that Noul could make landfall on Sunday morning around the southern Chinese cities of Huizhou and Shanwei. As it moves inland, it will likely bring strong winds and heavy showers to the region.
China’s National Meteorological Center expects heavy rain and strong winds in parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces over the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, over 340,000 people had been evacuated from Guangdong province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Train services scheduled for Sunday have also been canceled, as reported by China News Service.
Hong Kong’s airport website indicated that over 150 flights had been canceled for Saturday and Sunday. Additional flights may face cancellations.
The mainland Chinese authorities issued their highest-level red typhoon alert on Saturday evening, while Hong Kong’s observatory raised the storm signal No. 8, the third-highest in its alert system.
As the storm approaches, part of a large scaffolding on a high-rise building in Hong Kong collapsed on Saturday afternoon. Initial reports from local police stated there were no injuries.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration noted that Noul was bringing rain to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. It was passing over waters south of the island and moving away from it on Saturday.
Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought severe weather to eastern China, resulting in the evacuation of over 2 million people when it made landfall on July 11. Another typhoon, Maysak, struck southern China on July 3.
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