On Thursday, August 31st, China has issued its highest level of typhoon warning as Typhoon Saola steadily advances towards the southeastern coastline, posing a threat to significant industrial centers such as Hong Kong and the neighboring Guangdong province.
At 6am, Chinese meteorologists declared a red warning for the approaching typhoon. The National Meteorological Center of China stated that Typhoon Saola, situated approximately 295 kilometers southeast of Guangdong province, is projected to move northwest across the expanse of the South China Sea at a pace of around 10 kilometers per hour. This trajectory will gradually lead it toward the Guangdong coast, with a subsequent anticipated decrease in its intensity.
As of 9am, wind speeds were recorded at a formidable 209 kilometers per hour.
The meteorological center forecasts that Typhoon Saola will make landfall along the coastal region, anywhere from Huilai County in Guangdong to Hong Kong, during the afternoon or evening of September 1st.
In response to the impending typhoon, China Railway has suspended operations on several major train lines. Additionally, Shanghai has temporarily halted train services bound for Guangdong, as reported by local media sources.
As Typhoon Saola inches closer to Guangdong, the Hong Kong Observatory anticipates that wind speeds in the region will progressively strengthen. Consequently, the observatory is set to elevate its wind signal to No. 3, the second-lowest level, later on Thursday.
With its advance, TyphoonSaola is also expected to trigger storm surges in coastal low-lying areas. The Hong Kong Observatory, situated about 440 kilometers away from the current position of Typhoon Saola, is keeping a watchful eye on the situation.