Typhoon Noul Hits Southern China: Storm Disrupts Travel and Forces Evacuations
Storm Landfall and Initial Impact
Wertynews.com – Typhoon Noul hits southern China with significant force, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall to coastal communities. Early Sunday morning, the storm made landfall along the Huidong county coastline in Huizhou city, situated within Guangdong province. China’s national weather center documented that the typhoon touched down at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time, marking the beginning of widespread disruptions across the region.
Before reaching the mainland, the Hong Kong Observatory recorded that Noul maintained maximum sustained winds of 90 mph near its center as it traversed the South China Sea on Saturday. The storm gradually approached the coastline, building momentum as it moved toward the densely populated southern Chinese provinces.
Mass Evacuations and Transportation Chaos
As the storm intensified, authorities in Guangdong province took precautionary measures to protect residents. By Saturday afternoon, more than 340,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The province remained on high alert throughout the weekend as meteorologists monitored the storm’s progression inland.
Transportation networks experienced severe disruptions as a result of the typhoon. Train services across Guangdong were completely suspended for Sunday, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. At Hong Kong airport, the official website confirmed that over 150 flights had been canceled for both Saturday and Sunday, with additional cancellations expected as conditions worsened.
Weather Forecasts and Regional Effects
China’s National Meteorological Center issued detailed forecasts predicting that portions of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces would experience intense rainfall and robust winds throughout the weekend. Residents were advised to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel during the peak of the storm.
Taiwan also felt the effects of the same weather system. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration reported that Noul was delivering precipitation to southern and eastern sections of the island. The storm was traversing waters situated south of Taiwan before moving away from the territory on Saturday, though residual effects continued to be felt.
Local police in Hong Kong reported that a segment of extensive scaffolding on a tall building collapsed during Saturday afternoon. Initial assessments suggested no injuries resulted from the incident.
Context of Recent Storm Activity
Typhoon Noul follows a series of recent weather systems affecting the region. Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi delivered strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China, prompting the evacuation of over 2 million people before making landfall on July 11. Additionally, Typhoon Maysak touched down in southern China on July 3, adding to the region’s ongoing weather challenges.
As Noul continues its journey inland, meteorologists expect the storm to gradually weaken while still maintaining the potential for significant rainfall and wind gusts. Communities across southern China remain vigilant as they navigate through this latest weather event in an active typhoon season.
