On the evening of July 11th, around 7 p.m., just before the arrival of Typhoon “Bavi”, a phenomenon of pink and purple skies appeared in cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou, capturing public attention on July 12th.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, several netizens in Shanghai and Hangzhou captured photos of the sky turning pink and purple on the evening of the 11th.
A netizen named “Cheng Ráo Lóng Chén HH” mentioned, “On the evening of July 9th in Shanghai, at 7 p.m., we also saw a pinkish-purple sunset.”
Another netizen, “bmw81880518”, added, “The same in Shanghai. The clouds showed a hint of pink and purple.”
A netizen from Wuxi, “yyp Mù Yì Yáng”, shared, “Wuxi also experienced this phenomenon. My daughter said the sky looked beautiful and asked me to take a look.”
Similarly, a netizen from Changzhou, “Gāo Fāng Píng Ān Shì Fú”, mentioned, “We also observed this in Changzhou today.”
Videos shared by netizens on social media platforms showed high-rise buildings covered with a pinkish-purple sky, the riverside illuminated in pink and purple, and the sky behind the mountains also blanketed in these colors. Many people gathered by the riverside to witness this unusual sight, with many of them taking photos with their phones.
According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, the warning issued indicated that Typhoon “Bavi” was expected to make landfall in coastal areas from Xiapu, Fujian to Wenling, Zhejiang on the evening of the 11th (with a strength of a severe typhoon or typhoon level, 13 to 15 on the Beaufort scale, 40 to 48 meters per second). The sudden change in the sky to pink and purple just before the typhoon’s landfall sparked awe and panic among the public.
In addition, a report from the “Daily Economic News” on July 11th mentioned that this phenomenon of pink and purple sunset, known as “Typhoon Sunset”, often indicates the approach of a typhoon and signifies potential strong winds and heavy rain. Therefore, it is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and not take this natural event lightly.
Facing the imminent threat of the typhoon, various regions in China saw a surge in panic buying, leading to empty supermarket shelves. On July 9th, according to reports from The Paper, some supermarkets in Hangzhou were almost completely cleared out, with bare shelves. Not only supermarkets but also chain stores and snack shops witnessed large crowds. Similar scenes were reported in cities like Shanghai and Ningbo.
Headlines emphasized that supermarkets had been emptied even before the arrival of the typhoon. Late at night, people were seen queuing in supermarkets to purchase essentials, with fresh produce shelves completely empty, refrigerators almost barren, and even nearby snack shops overflowing with customers.
It was reported that Typhoon “Bavi” made landfall in Zhejiang twice, around 11:20 p.m. on July 11th and again around midnight on the 12th, with a maximum wind force of 13. The Central Meteorological Observatory of China issued a red alert for heavy rain, forecasting widespread and intense rainfall affecting over a dozen provinces.