China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin approaches
Beijing, Aug 9
China's national observatory on Sunday activated a red alert -- the highest level in the country's typhoon warning system -- as Typhoon Dolphin approached.
Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to make landfall along the country's east coast from Sanmen in Zhejiang Province to Fuding in Fujian Province around Sunday evening to the early hours of Monday, according to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC).
NMC chief forecaster Wang Haiping said a high alert was required due to the typhoon's heavy rainfall intensity, extensive impact range and prolonged duration, Xinhua News Agency reported.
From Sunday to Wednesday, regions that include northern Fujian, Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, eastern Hubei, central and eastern Henan, and southern Shandong will be hit by heavy downpours, with some areas in central-eastern Zhejiang and southern Anhui facing severe torrential rain.
Addressing key areas of prevention, Wang said the coastal areas of East China and the East China Sea need to focus on guarding against gale-force winds. From Sunday to Tuesday, most parts of the East China Sea, Hangzhou Bay, the coastal areas of Zhejiang, and the Yangtze River Estuary are expected to experience winds of Force 9 to 12, with gusts reaching Force 11 to 14, while gusts near the typhoon centre could reach Force 15 to 16.
Relevant provinces also need to guard against secondary disasters triggered by persistent heavy rainfall. The risks of mountain torrents, geological disasters, and flash floods in small and medium-sized rivers are relatively high in Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, and Hebei, while some cities face high risks of urban waterlogging.
NMC forecasts Typhoon Dolphin to move northwestward and gradually weaken after landfall. After Wednesday, the weakened remnant vortex will turn northward.
"A typhoon landfall does not mean its impact is over. After Dolphin makes landfall, it will push further inland," Wang said.
From Thursday to Sunday, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, northern Shandong and Liaoning are likely to see heavy rainfall, with some areas expected to experience severe torrential rain.
In response to the typhoon, China's meteorological authority on Sunday upgraded its emergency response for severe meteorological disasters from Level III to Level II.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Typhoon Dolphin seems really intense. It's good that China has such an advanced early warning system. I just hope the evacuation plans are effective and people heed the warnings, especially in the rural areas.
The way they're tracking the wind speeds and rainfall is impressive. But it's a wake-up call for all of us about climate change. These extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. We saw the same in India with recent floods in the Northeast.
I just hope the forecast is accurate and they don't over-warn unnecessarily. Sometimes too much panic can lead to more problems. But better safe than sorry. Prayers for everyone in the affected regions.
The mention of urban waterlogging is scary. Our own metros like Mumbai and Chennai struggle with that during monsoon. It's a shared challenge. Hopefully, China's infrastructure holds up better this time.
It's heartening to see how quickly they can escalate the emergency response. The coordination between provinces seems solid. I just hope the secondary disasters like landslides are managed well. Stay safe, everyone.
Honestly, I worry about the economic impact too. Typhoons like this can disrupt supply chains and affect global markets. But the priority is clearly human life. Hope
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.