The alert level has been raised along the eastern coast of China’s Guangdong province after Typhoon Saudel regained strength over the South China Sea. Forecasts indicate that it could make landfall or pass very close to the coastline from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of the typhoon was over the northeastern part of the South China Sea, about 195 kilometers east-southeast of Shanwei.
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Data from China’s National Meteorological Center, NMC, showed that Saudel was accompanied by sustained Category 8 winds, while gusts reached up to 18 meters per second. The area experiencing Category 7 winds extended between 100 and 300 kilometers from the typhoon’s center.
On Wednesday, the weather system moved slowly and erratically over the South China Sea before turning west-southwest overnight.
China’s Meteorological Administration forecasts that the typhoon will move westward on Thursday, along the coast of Guangdong.
This possible track increases the likelihood that Saudel will make landfall or pass very close to the coastal belt between Shantou and Huizhou, from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
The worsening weather has led to the suspension of classes in several cities. Authorities have also warned that the typhoon could make landfall more than once along its path.
At noon on Wednesday, Nan’ao County issued a yellow typhoon warning and suspended classes. According to China’s National Meteorological Center, blue warnings were meanwhile activated in Chaozhou, Zhejiang, Shandong and Zhuhai.
Roads and bridges closed as a safety measure
Preventive restrictions also affected transportation. Nan’ao Bridge, which connects the island of the same name to the mainland, was closed to traffic at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
The committee responsible for managing the bridge announced that the decision on reopening it would depend on how weather conditions develop.
Coastal cities at risk of being hit by Saudel have been instructed to implement preventive measures, prioritizing the protection of residents’ lives and the reduction of economic losses.
According to warnings issued by the authorities, the typhoon is expected to bring severe storms, powerful winds and intense rainfall. The possibility of more than one landfall has kept coastal areas on high alert.
