Typhoon Wipha Makes Landfall in Southern China with Strong Winds and Heavy Rains

Strategic Insights -

Typhoon Wipha made landfall in mainland China on Sunday evening, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rains that caused disruptions in Hong Kong and Macau. The storm, which reached land at 5:50 local time, had maximum wind force equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, according to the Guangdong meteorological service. As it continued to move westward and southward, the typhoon weakened into a tropical storm by Sunday night, but still brought sustained winds of about 106 miles per hour and sea swells to the southern edge of Hong Kong.

Key Takeaways:

  • Typhoon Wipha made landfall in Taishan, Guangdong province, China at 5:50 local time on Sunday evening, with maximum wind force equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.
  • The storm brought heavy showers, sea swells, and sustained winds of about 106 miles per hour as it skirted the southern edge of Hong Kong.
  • Hong Kong issued a No. 10 hurricane signal, the highest on its warning scale, for the first time since 2023 as the storm approached, but later downgraded the warning level as the storm began to move away.
  • More than 400 flights were rescheduled at Hong Kong International Airport, while nearly 200 flights were canceled at Macau International Airport.
  • Authorities in some southern Chinese cities, including Zhuhai and Zhanjiang, closed workplaces, ports, trains, and outdoor playgrounds due to the storm.
  • Wipha is expected to move across southern China before making landfall in Vietnam, according to China's meteorological agency.

Statistics:

  • The storm had maximum wind force equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.
  • Sustained winds reached 106 miles per hour.
  • More than 400 flights were rescheduled at Hong Kong International Airport.
  • Nearly 200 flights were canceled at Macau International Airport.
  • The authorities in Zhuhai, a city of about 2.5 million people, closed construction sites, parks, ferries, piers, and outdoor playgrounds.

Sources:

  • Guangdong's meteorological service
  • Joint Typhoon Warning Center
  • Hong Kong Observatory
  • Hong Kong public broadcaster
  • Macau International Airport
  • China's meteorological agency
  • This article appeared in print on page A8.