Super Typhoon Saola: highest warning as storm barrels towards southern China

Weather bureau issues red alert, with typhoon expected to make landfall between Huilai in Guangdong and Hong Kong on Friday
Start of school year postponed in many Guangdong cities, and some train services, flights and ferries have been halted

Accidents, extreme weather and disasters in China

Phoebe Zhang

Published: 4:14pm, 31 Aug 2023

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China issued its highest storm warning on Thursday, as Super Typhoon Saola edged closer to the south of the country, threatening Hong Kong and the manufacturing hub of Shenzhen. The southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian also issued warnings as the powerful storm approaches.

The National Meteorological Centre issued the red alert at 6am, saying the typhoon was expected to move northwest across the South China Sea at 10km/h and make landfall between Huilai in Guangdong and Hong Kong on Friday afternoon or evening.

It said strong winds and storms were expected to hit Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday and Friday.

Windows are taped in Hong Kong as the typhoon approaches. Photo: Sam Tsang

Local governments in the two provinces issued their own typhoon warnings and ordered a string of closures.

In Shenzhen, a blue alert – the lowest on the four-tier system – is expected to be upgraded to yellow around 6pm, and authorities have said schools could be closed.

The typhoon has prompted schools in many Guangdong cities – including Shantou, Chaozhou and Huizhou – to delay the start of the new school year from Friday to Monday.

Many parks, museums and beaches have been temporarily closed in Guangdong, including Dameisha Beach and the Nanshan Museum in Shenzhen and the Nansha Wetland Park in Guangzhou.

Transport is expected to be disrupted, with China Railway suspending several major train services in the province. In Shenzhen, all flights into and out of the Baoan International Airport will be suspended from noon on Friday.

Ferry services from Shenzhen to Zhuhai and Hong Kong will also be suspended from Friday, while other routes in Guangdong – including from Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Guangzhou – will be halted from Thursday to Sunday, depending on the weather.

In neighbouring Fujian, island cruises and coastal tours have been suspended, with all boats requested to dock. The maritime authority in provincial capital Xiamen has emergency towing vessels on stand-by.

In Shanwei, authorities have issued an emergency order shutting down schools, workplaces and transport from Friday. Residents have been urged to stay indoors if possible.

Chinese forecasters also warned that two more tropical storms are forming, Haikui and Hongyan. Haikui is expected to make landfall in Zhejiang, while Hongyan is being closely monitored.

Hong Kong issues T3 signal; T8 expected on Friday, classes set to be suspended

People are watching for updates across southern China as Super Typhoon Saola approaches. Zoey Zhou, a designer in Shenzhen, said residents of the city were used to regular typhoons, with the last one – Doksuri – just a few weeks ago.

“It seems like we’ve had more rain than usual this summer, and every now and then there seems to be a new typhoon,” she said.

The Hong Kong Observatory said it would raise a No 8 warning signal between 2am and 5am on Friday, with schools closed across the city. “Local weather is expected to deteriorate significantly, with heavy squally showers and violent winds during the day,” it said.