As Typhoon Wipha intensified and entered the South China Sea, authorities in Hainan and Guangdong provinces declared heightened emergency responses, warning of fierce winds and torrential rains.
Hainan initiated a Level IV emergency response at 9 a.m. Saturday, while Guangdong escalated its alert from Level IV to Level II by 11 a.m. The Hainan Meteorological Service reported that Wipha had strengthened from a tropical storm to a strong tropical storm early Saturday. By 8 a.m., its center was positioned about 930 kilometers east of Wenchang City, Hainan, moving northwest at roughly 20 km/h.
Forecasters predict Wipha will continue intensifying as it heads toward the coastal stretch from Shenzhen (Guangdong) to Wenchang (Hainan), with a potential landfall between Sunday afternoon and night.
Impact Timeline (Saturday–July 22):
- Hainan: Widespread rainstorms and gales expected across most land and sea areas. The Qiongzhou Strait (between Guangdong and Hainan) may face extended shipping suspensions from Sunday onward. Haikou, the provincial capital, could suffer severe flooding.
- Guangdong: Heavy thunderstorms, strong winds, and storm surges are anticipated. The province has deployed rescue vessels, helicopters, tugboats, and cleanup ships in preparation.
China’s typhoon emergency response system spans four levels, with Level I being the most critical.
