Typhoon “Noul” is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to southern China and Hong Kong, prompting Guangdong Province to be on high alert. Over 340,000 people have been evacuated in advance, and some areas have implemented “Five Stops” measures. The main bridge of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be temporarily closed. “Noul” was upgraded to a “strong typhoon level” on Saturday night (July 25) and is expected to make landfall on the coast of Guangdong in the early hours of Sunday.
The “Five Stops” refer to stopping classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations.
On Saturday, the Hong Kong Observatory stated that Typhoon “Noul” had intensified, with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching up to 90 miles per hour (approximately 145 kilometers per hour). The typhoon passed through the South China Sea on Saturday, gradually approaching the coast of Guangdong. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal at 10:10 pm on Saturday.
Mainland China also issued the highest level of red alert on Saturday night. The China Meteorological Administration stated that Typhoon “Noul” had intensified from a typhoon to a strong typhoon level at 10 pm that evening, with its center located about 100 kilometers southeast of Huidong County, Huizhou City, Guangdong.
The Meteorological Administration further forecasts that “Noul” will move northwestward at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour, with its intensity expected to increase. It is projected to make landfall on the coastal areas from Shenzhen to Haifeng in Guangdong in the early hours of Sunday, then shift to a northwesterly direction with weakening intensity.
According to the information released by the China Meteorological Administration, from Saturday night to Sunday night, there will be strong winds of force 6-8 and gusts of force 9-10 in some coastal areas of southeastern Fujian and central-eastern Guangdong, with 9-12 force winds and gusts of 12-13 force expected in parts of the northeastern South China Sea, Pearl River Estuary, the coastal areas of Hong Kong, and the eastern coastal areas of Guangdong. The wind force in the sea or regions where the center of “Noul” passes may reach force 13-15 with gusts of force 16-17.
From Saturday night to Sunday night, parts of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces are expected to experience heavy to torrential rains, while the eastern coastal areas and northern mountainous regions of Guangdong and some localized areas in southern Jiangxi may see exceptionally heavy rainfall. The Meteorological Administration has also issued warnings that the heavy precipitation could lead to flash flood risks.
As of Saturday afternoon, over 340,000 people in Guangdong Province have been evacuated. Twelve cities including Chaozhou, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Huizhou have implemented “Five Stops” or partial “Five Stops” measures.
The typhoon is expected to impact flight operations at airports in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Huizhou, and Zhuhai. China Southern Airlines has stated that they will closely monitor the typhoon’s development, adjust flight operations in a timely manner, and advise passengers to stay informed about flight changes through SMS notifications.
The Hong Kong airport website shows that over 150 flights have been canceled on Saturday and Sunday, with more flights likely to face cancellations. Cathay Pacific Airways announced the cancellation of all flights departing from Hong Kong between 1:15 am and 6:00 pm on Sunday.
In addition, after consultation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, it has been decided that starting from midnight on Sunday, the main bridge of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be temporarily closed, and the border clearance services between the Zhuhai Port of Entry and the Macau Port of Entry will be suspended. The reopening time will be notified separately.