Typhoon “Swordfish” is expected to make landfall in Hainan today (August 24), potentially becoming the strongest typhoon in Sanya in nearly 40 years. Sanya has announced the implementation of the “Five Halts and One Closure” measures throughout the city on the 24th, which include suspending classes, work, business operations, transportation, flights, and closing scenic spots.
As of 6:36 am on August 24, the Sanya Meteorological Observatory upgraded the typhoon alert signal from orange to red. Typhoon “Swordfish” has intensified to typhoon level. Over the next 12 hours, the average wind force along the coastal and inland areas of Sanya will gradually increase to level 12, with gusts reaching levels of 13-15, accompanied by heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms.
The China Meteorological Administration continued to issue an orange typhoon alert at 6:00 am on August 24. The 13th typhoon of this year, “Swordfish,” strengthened to typhoon level in the early hours of today. At 5:00 am, its center was located about 255 kilometers southwest of Sanya City, Hainan Province in the western part of the South China Sea, at a latitude of 17.6 degrees north and a longitude of 111.8 degrees east. The maximum wind force near the center reached level 12 (35 meters per second), with the minimum air pressure at 970 hPa. The radius of gale-force winds extends 200-220 kilometers, while the radius of storm-force winds ranges from 50-80 kilometers, and the radius of hurricane-force winds reaches 30 kilometers.
It is expected that “Swordfish” will move in a west-northwesterly direction at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour, with its intensity continuing to strengthen. It may reach the level of a strong typhoon (14-15, 42-48 meters per second). The typhoon is forecasted to make landfall along the coast of Linghsui to Ledong in Hainan in the afternoon to evening of the 24th (13-14, 40-45 meters per second, typhoon or strong typhoon level). It may also pass through the southern offshore waters of Hainan Island before gradually moving towards the coastal areas of central to northern Vietnam.
According to the Sanya Phoenix International Airport, flights will be suspended from 10:00 am on August 24. Subsequent flights have been canceled.
On the evening of August 23, the Sanya Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports Bureau of Hainan Province announced that due to the impact of the typhoon, all tourist attractions, sports venues, libraries, museums, and art galleries in the city were closed as of 8:00 pm that day.
Influenced by “Swordfish,” it is expected that from now until August 25, there will be heavy to torrential rains in the southwestern parts of Guangdong, southwestern parts of Guangxi, and on Hainan Island. Particularly in the central and southern areas of Hainan, there may be incidences of extremely heavy rainfall.