Typhoon Yagi Approaches Southern China, Causing Widespread Disruptions

Typhoon Yagi Approaches Southern China

Typhoon Yagi, a formidable storm, is making its way toward southern China, bringing with it heavy rainfall and fierce winds that have led to the closure of schools and businesses, as well as significant travel disruptions. As of Thursday, the storm boasted maximum sustained winds of approximately 150 miles per hour, classifying it as a Category 4 hurricane, as reported by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm was situated about 350 miles east of Xuwen County in Guangdong Province, according to China’s National Meteorological Center.

The forecast indicates that Yagi is expected to make landfall on Friday evening, striking near the coastal regions of Guangdong and Hainan provinces after traversing the South China Sea. Meteorologists predict that this storm could be the most powerful typhoon to impact Hainan since 2014.

Yagi originated as a tropical cyclone on Sunday in the Philippine Sea. Its passage through the Philippines resulted in nearly 10 inches of rain this week, tragically claiming at least 13 lives, displacing tens of thousands, and causing extensive damage to numerous homes, as reported by the Philippine government.

In anticipation of the storm’s arrival, the China Meteorological Administration has issued warnings regarding potential flooding and storm surges, subsequently elevating the emergency response level to the second-highest category. In Guangdong Province, authorities have issued the highest-level emergency warning.

• Some towns in Hainan are predicted to receive over four inches of rain within the next 24 hours, according to the provincial meteorological bureau.
• As a precaution, all trains and boats in the province were suspended on Thursday, and flights scheduled at Haikou Meilan International Airport from Thursday evening to Friday night were canceled.

Haikou, the capital of Hainan, has mandated the closure of all nonessential services, businesses, public transport, markets, schools, and construction sites as a precautionary measure against the impending storm. Similarly, authorities in Zhanjiang, a city in Guangdong, have implemented comparable closure measures ahead of Yagi’s anticipated landfall.

The storm is expected to pass near Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, on Thursday night and Friday. The Hong Kong Observatory has advised residents to avoid coastal areas, refrain from outdoor activities, and secure small vessels in safe harbors. In response to the storm, Hong Kong authorities have closed all kindergartens and many schools. Hong Kong Express, a budget airline, has announced the cancellation of six flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

After Yagi moves past southern China, forecasts suggest that it will weaken as it progresses toward northern Vietnam, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.