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The Independent
21-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
China hit by multiple storms, floods, and heatwaves as Typhoon Wipha makes landfall
Multiple storms and a severe heatwave have swept across China, killing dozens, damaging infrastructure and disrupting travel as authorities brace for more heavy rain and rising temperatures. Typhoon Wipha made landfall in southern Guangdong province on Sunday evening, battering cities like Yangjiang, Zhanjiang and Maoming with winds of over 118kmph and dumping torrential rain that uprooted trees, triggered landslides and left thousands without power. The system also disrupted travel across the Pearl River Delta, grounding more than 900 flights in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Hong Kong was briefly placed under its maximum typhoon warning as gusts exceeded 167kmph and scaffolding collapsed in parts of the city. Authorities reported 471 fallen trees and at least 26 injuries linked to the storm. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. By Sunday night, the typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm as it moved inland, but the threat of flooding and landslides persisted across southern China, including Guangxi and Hainan. Local forecasters warned that the system could re-intensify over the Gulf of Tonkin before making landfall in northern Vietnam. Meanwhile, torrential rain continued across parts of China already inundated by earlier storms. In July alone, flooding, landslides and storm surges have affected millions across coastal provinces, including Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi. A separate set of storms triggered flash floods in Henan and Gansu last week, where rivers burst their banks, buildings collapsed, and at least seven people were killed or reported missing. The Ministry of Emergency Management said China's first-half disaster toll included at least 307 people dead or missing, over 23 million affected residents, and more than $7.6bn in economic damage, with the bulk caused by weather-related events. While southern regions battled floods, other parts of China faced record-breaking heat. Temperatures soared to 46C in Xi'an this month, with surface readings exceeding 70C in some cities. Red alerts were issued in provinces including Shaanxi and Yunnan, prompting cooling shelters and curbs on outdoor work as electricity demand hit historic highs. The National Meteorological Centre has warned of continued extreme weather through July and August, China's typical peak season for typhoons and floods. Chen Min, China's vice-minister of water resources, warned at a news conference earlier this month that the 'global trend of climate warming is evident' in China. 'In recent years, more frequent, intense and widespread extreme weather events have led to more abrupt, severe and abnormal disasters such as heavy rainfall, floods and droughts,' he said. Meanwhile, monsoon continued to create mayhem in South Korea in the east and Indian subcontinent in the west. At least 18 people have died and 9 were missing after five days of record-breaking rain triggered flash floods and landslides in South Korea. Over 14,000 people have been evacuated nationwide, and the government has dispatched thousands of troops for recovery work. In Gapyeong, one man died after calling his wife to say his car was being swept away, while entire villages in Sancheong were buried in mudslides. In India, intense rainfall and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have killed at least 140 people since late June. Roads, bridges and homes have been swept away in mountain districts, with cloudbursts triggering deadly flash floods. In Nepal, a glacial lake outburst on the Chinese border on 8 July sent a wall of water downstream, destroying the Friendship Bridge, submerging vehicles, and killing at least nine people. Nineteen others remain missing. Pakistan has also suffered one of its deadliest monsoons since the devastating floods of 2022. More than 200 people have died, including dozens of children, and over 560 have been injured in rain-related incidents since June 26, with Punjab province the worst affected.
South China Morning Post
19-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Wipha: Hong Kong Observatory could issue T8 signal ‘in small hours of Sunday'
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory has said it could issue a No 8 typhoon signal in the early hours of Sunday morning, as Severe Tropical Storm Wipha edges closer to the city. 'Depending on the distance between Wipha and the Pearl River [Delta], the intensity of Wipha and the change in local winds, the Observatory will consider issuing the gale or storm signal, No 8, in the small hours [on Sunday],' it said on Saturday. The forecaster said it would issue a No 3 typhoon signal at 2.20pm on Saturday, as it expected Wipha to continue to intensify and move towards the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta that day. 'With its outer rainbands and associated strong winds affecting the coastal areas of Guangdong gradually, local winds will strengthen later today. There will be more showers gradually with squally thunderstorms,' it said. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Heavy rain, thunderstorms to hit Hong Kong on Thursday and Friday: Observatory
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory has warned that the city will be hit by torrential rain and squally thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday as tropical cyclone Danas gradually enters Guangdong. The forecaster also said on Wednesday that it might issue a Strong Monsoon Signal, depending on local changes in the wind. 'According to the present forecast, Danas will move west-southwest, enter Guangdong and weaken gradually on Wednesday and Thursday. Its remnant may then skirt near Guangzhou,' it said. 'The active southwest monsoon to its south will generally affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta on Friday. There will be torrential rain and squally thunderstorms over the territory.' The forecaster warned that the weather would be 'relatively severe' in the region in the next couple of days under the combined effect of the torrential rain and the strong southwest monsoon. It urged members of the public to keep track of the weather warnings it issued.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong set for heavy showers, thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Advertisement Hongkongers should brace for heavy showers and thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon, the local weather forecaster has warned. The Observatory said patches of thundery showers had continued to develop over the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta under the influence of a trough of low pressure. 'Locally, it is expected that showers will be heavier in some areas over the territory, and there will be thunderstorms in the next couple of hours,' it said in a special reminder issued at around 1.30pm. 'Members of the public should be aware of the change in weather.' Advertisement More than 10mm of rainfall was recorded in various locations across the city in the morning, with the downpour over Hong Kong Island exceeding 20mm.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong set for heavy showers, thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hongkongers should brace for heavy showers and thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon, the local forecaster has warned. The Hong Kong Observatory said patches of thundery showers had continued to develop over the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta under the influence of a trough of low pressure. 'Locally, it is expected that showers will be heavier in some areas over the territory, and there will be thunderstorms in the next couple of hours,' it said in a special reminder issued at around 1.30pm. 'Members of the public should be aware of the change in weather.' More than 10mm of rainfall was recorded in various locations across the city in the morning, with the downpour over Hong Kong Island exceeding 20mm.
