Typhoon Wutip to make landfall in South China by weekend

Typhoon Wutip, the first typhoon of the year, is expected to form around Wednesday and make landfall in South China over the weekend, bringing heavy rain to Hainan and Guangdong provinces, according to the National Meteorological Center.

A tropical disturbance, which is an unorganized cluster of thunderstorms that could later develop into a tropical cyclone, is expected to strengthen to a typhoon around midweek, the center said on Tuesday.

After forming, Typhoon Wutip is projected to gradually approach the coastal areas of central Guangdong and southern Hainan, reaching the strength of a severe tropical storm or typhoon. Wind speeds could reach 10 to 12 on the Beaufort scale, or 25 to 33 meters per second, the center said.

Wutip, this year's first typhoon, will form more than two months later than the usual date of March 25, according to Xiang Chunyi, a senior engineer at the center.

"Since May, the subtropical high-pressure system has been unusually large and strong, creating a 'cap' of descending air currents over tropical waters, which has suppressed the tropical convection necessary for typhoon development," Xiang said.

In addition, the unusually far south position and slow northward movement of the intertropical convergence zone this year, along with the delayed onset of the summer monsoon in the South China Sea, have further delayed typhoon formation, she added.

Xin Xin, chief weather analyst at China Weather, said on his social media account Weibo that the intensity of Wutip at landfall is not expected to be very strong. "As a 'native typhoon' forming in the South China Sea, it develops close to the coast where sea surface temperatures are relatively normal, so it will not be very intense when making landfall," he said.

"However, attention should be paid to the impact of rainfall it brings to South China."

On Tuesday, the National Emergency Broadcast urged residents in South China's coastal regions to closely monitor weather updates and prepare for the typhoon in advance.

When a typhoon hits, residents should stay indoors in windowless or small-windowed rooms such as bathrooms, and are advised to check and reinforce doors, windows, outdoor air conditioners, solar water heaters and other outdoor equipment, the National Emergency Broadcast said.

Residents should also apply X-shaped tape to window glass to help prevent breakage, it reminded.

If people find themselves outdoors during a typhoon, they should avoid taking shelter near billboards, towers or large trees, and refrain from walking on embankments and bridges near bodies of water to avoid being swept away.

Additionally, after a strong typhoon, people should not leave their shelter immediately. "Even if the eye of the storm passes overhead and brings a brief calm, the storm is not over. Typically, within an hour, winds will return forcefully from the opposite direction," it said.