Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory upgraded the alert level for Typhoon Cempaka from white to blue at 2:30 p.m. yesterday, representing the fourth most severe level in the city’s five-tier weather warning system. It is also the city’s first typhoon blue alert this year.
The city government activated a Grade-4 emergency response for the typhoon at 4:15 p.m. yesterday.
Affected by Cempaka, the seventh typhoon this year, heavy rains along with squalls are expected to lash the city today and tomorrow. Maximum wind gusts in some areas might reach levels 8 to 10, said the observatory.
Typhoon Cempaka, on its way to the Pearl River Estuary and areas of western Guangdong yesterday, is predicted to land in the coastal areas of Guangdong, specifically in the cities of Zhuhai and Maoming, between this afternoon and tonight, according to the weather forecaster.
Heavy showers will continue in some areas of the city tomorrow and start abating Thursday.
Until Thursday, downpours will continue to hit eastern and western Guangdong as well as cities and counties located in the southern part of the Pearl River Delta, according to Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service.
Meanwhile, another typhoon, In-Fa, the sixth this year, is forecast to move towards the coastal areas of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in the next few days.
However, it has by far showed no signs of affecting Shenzhen, according to the weather forecaster.
Guangdong has a five-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, blue and white.