China’s island province of Hainan has issued a Level IV typhoon warning as Typhoon Tapah, the 16th typhoon of the year, gathers strength over the South China Sea. The warning was activated at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the Hainan provincial meteorological observatory, the storm was located about 445 kilometers southeast of Maoming City in Guangdong province as of Sunday morning. It is packing maximum winds of 23 meters per second near its center.
Meteorologists report that Typhoon Tapah is moving northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour and is expected to gradually intensify. The storm is forecast to make landfall between the cities of Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in Guangdong from Sunday morning to noon. It is likely to hit as a severe tropical storm or typhoon before weakening after moving inland.
The typhoon’s impact is already being felt. The Qiongzhou Strait and Beibu Gulf are experiencing strong winds, with gusts expected to reach high speeds. Wind forces in the eastern sea areas of Hainan Island are predicted to increase significantly, with gusts potentially reaching very dangerous levels. Sea areas near the Xisha and Zhongsha Islands will also see strengthening winds.
In preparation for the severe weather, China activated a Level-IV emergency response for flooding and typhoon in both Guangdong and Hainan provinces on Saturday. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has already dispatched work teams to Guangdong to assist with local relief efforts.
This system, which began as a tropical depression on Friday evening, intensified into Typhoon Tapah on Saturday. It is expected to bring heavy downpours and powerful gales to the region in the coming days.
