China braces for heavy rain as tropical storm Noul edges closer

HONG KONG: China on Friday warned of heavy rain and severe flood risks as the third tropical cyclone this month tracked closer to the country’s southern coast, where it is expected to intensify over the weekend.

As of Friday morning, Noul was northeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, moving west-northwest at around 25 to 30 kph (16 to 19 mph).

The tropical storm is forecast to move within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong later in the day, according to the city’s observatory. Local winds are expected to strengthen gradually across southern coastal areas, with squally showers intensifying through Saturday.

Mainland Chinese weather authorities project Noul will make landfall along the southern coast between Zhuhai in Guangdong province and Zhangpu in Fujian province between Saturday night and early Sunday morning before moving inland and gradually weakening.

Cumulative rainfall across eastern Guangdong and southern Fujian could reach 500 to 600mm (20 to 24 inches) in localised areas, meteorologists said. Guangdong and Fujian are among China’s wettest provinces, each averaging roughly 2,000mm of rain every year.

Noul arrives after torrential downpours battered large parts of the country.

Extreme rainfall threatens north as China enters peak flood season

In southwestern China, rescue teams are still searching for more than 50 people who went missing following a deadly landslide in Chongqing municipality.

China is entering its peak flood control window — known as Qixia Bashang — from mid-July to mid-August.

Weather experts warn extreme rainfall will increase in frequency and intensity over the coming weeks, with much of northern China set to experience 20% to 50% more rain than usual.