City on alert as Typhoon Tapah approaches

The Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory will upgrade its typhoon alert from blue to yellow at around 11 p.m. yesterday as Typhoon Tapah, the 16th typhoon of the year, intensifies and moves closer to the city. 

A satellite image shows Typhoon Tapah approaching the southern coast of China at 5 p.m. yesterday, with its center located about 297 kilometers south of Shenzhen. Courtesy of Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory

The yellow alert will cover Shenzhen’s eastern and western coastal waters, including the coastal subdistricts of Dapeng, Yantian, Bao’an, and Nanshan. The city had earlier raised the city-wide typhoon warning from white to blue at 9 a.m. yesterday.

Kindergartens, primary and middle schools are closed for the entire day today in accordance with the city's automatic suspension mechanism for severe weather. Boarding students already at school should follow school arrangements.

A yellow alert indicates that within 24 hours, the city is expected to be affected by a typhoon with sustained winds of Beaufort force 8 or above and gusts of force 10 or higher.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Tapah was centered about 297 kilometers south of Shenzhen over the South China Sea. It had intensified into a severe tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 25 meters per second (force 10). 

The storm had entered the city’s 300-kilometer emergency response zone. It was forecast to move north-northwest at 20 to 25 kilometers per hour, gradually intensify, and make landfall as a severe tropical storm or typhoon between Jiangmen and Zhanjiang in western Guangdong from early morning to around noon today before steadily weakening.

A forecast map shows the projected 48-hour path of Typhoon Tapah as of 5 p.m. yesterday. Courtesy of China's National Meteorological Center 

Under its influence, Shenzhen is expected to see a pronounced period of wind and rain from yesterday into Tuesday, which should ease the recent heat. Heavy rain to localized torrential rain is expected, with southeasterly coastal and marine gusts reaching force 9 to 10, and up to force 11 to 12 in higher elevations. 

Cloudy weather with brief showers is forecast for Wednesday, while Thursday through Sunday will bring sunshine interspersed with showers and warm midday temperatures.

A seven-day weather forecast of Shenzhen. Courtesy of Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory

Railway authorities announced adjustments and suspensions to some services bound for affected areas.

Residents are advised to stay away from shorelines and avoid water sports, as storm surges may cause flooding in low-lying coastal areas tomorrow morning.

Guangdong and Hainan provinces have activated Level-III and Level-IV emergency responses for flooding and typhoons, respectively.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has dispatched teams to Guangdong to assist with local relief efforts.

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Shenzhen Typhoon Rain Code