Tropical storm “Weipa” arrived at the sea near Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, about 190 kilometers southeast at 5:00 am on July 20th. The Central Meteorological Observatory continued to issue orange typhoon and heavy rain dual warnings at 6:00 am. As a result, multiple transportation routes were suspended, and many areas in Guangdong implemented the “Five Suspensions” policy, which includes suspending classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations.
According to the forecast from the Central Meteorological Observatory, at 5:00 am on July 20th, Typhoon “Weipa” reached the sea near Guangdong with maximum wind force near the center reaching 12 on the Beaufort scale (33 meters/second), with the center’s minimum pressure at 975 hPa. The radius of the gale 7 circle was between 250 to 300 kilometers, and the radius of the gale 10 circle was between 60 to 80 kilometers.
Reports indicated that from 11:00 on the 20th to 9:00 on the 21st, intercity trains on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai line were suspended. The Hainan Island Loop West Loop High-Speed Rail and suburban trains were suspended from midnight on the 20th to 7:00 pm on the 21st. Partial trains on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail, Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Rail, Beijing-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail, and Hangzhou-Shenzhen lines were either operating at reduced speeds or suspended. In addition, due to the suspension of ferry services, some passenger trains on the Guangzhou-Maoming line were suspended or rerouted.
The Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge suspended outbound customs clearance services from 2:30 am on July 20th, and the main bridge was temporarily closed from 3:30 am. The reopening time will be announced depending on the situation. Traffic control measures were initiated at 3:30 am on July 20th, temporarily closing the Huangmao Sea Cross-Sea Passage, with the reopening time subject to further notice.
The cross-strait passenger and ro-ro transportation service in the Qiongzhou Strait has been suspended from 9:30 pm on July 19th and will remain suspended for 2 to 3 days. Reports from mainland media stated that Guangdong is currently maintaining a level-II emergency response for wind prevention. As of 9:00 pm on the 19th, authorities reported that a total of 278,441 people in Guangdong Province had been relocated, including 12,036 transferred by sea and 266,405 transferred by land.
Starting from 3:00 am on the 20th, Guangdong initiated a level-I typhoon emergency response and implemented the “Five Suspensions” policy throughout the city of Zhuhai, including suspending classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations.
From 8:00 am on the 20th until the end of the typhoon impact, Yangjiang implemented emergency measures including the “Five Suspensions” – suspending classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations.
Schools, secondary vocational schools, kindergartens, and extracurricular training institutions in Jiangmen were closed on July 20th.
Public parks in Shenzhen were closed from 6:00 pm on the 19th, and indoor emergency shelters were opened citywide.
The Guangxi Maritime Bureau upgraded its emergency response level from level IV to level III at noon on the 19th in preparation for extreme weather conditions like typhoons.
Affected by the typhoon, most coastal areas in Hainan Province experienced strong winds and heavy rains from the afternoon of the 19th until the daytime of the 22nd. The Hainan Provincial Disaster Reduction and Relief Committee activated a level-IV emergency response for flood and wind prevention at 3:30 pm on the 19th.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau announced on the afternoon of the 19th that all schools would be closed on the 20th. The ferry services between Macau and Shenzhen Shekou, Fuyong, Zhongshan, Zhuhai Wanzai, and Hong Kong were suspended all day on the 20th. Macau Airlines stated that over 70 flights to and from Macau on the 20th have been canceled.
According to the monitoring and assessment by the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Observatory, starting from 11:00 on July 20th, temporary closures were implemented on the Xianghai Bridge, Hekou Expressway, Jiangzhu Expressway, Airport Expressway, and Huanglankou Expressway, with specific reopening times to be announced later.