Typhoon Noul nears Guangdong

Typhoon Noul intensified into a severe typhoon on Saturday night as it neared China's southern coast, prompting the top weather authority to issue its highest-level typhoon warning and cautioning that the storm could bring destructive winds and torrential rain to Guangdong and neighboring provinces.

The typhoon is forecast to make landfall between Shenzhen and Haifeng in Guangdong early Sunday.

The National Meteorological Center upgraded its typhoon alert from orange to red at 10 pm Saturday, when Noul, the 12th named typhoon of the year, was centered about 100 kilometers southeast of Huidong county in Huizhou, Guangdong province.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 42 meters per second and a minimum central pressure of 955 hectopascals. Its gale-force winds extended 180 to 250 kilometers from its center.

Xiang Chunyi, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, said Noul is expected to move northwest at about 20 kilometers per hour while continuing to strengthen.

It is forecast to make landfall between Shenzhen and Haifeng in Guangdong early Sunday, packing maximum sustained winds of 42 to 48 meters per second, she said.

After coming ashore, Noul is expected to turn toward the north-northwest and gradually weaken as it moves inland.

Strong winds are forecast from Saturday night to Sunday night across the northern South China Sea, the southern Taiwan Strait, the southwestern East China Sea and coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong.

Parts of the South China Sea, the Pearl River Estuary, Hong Kong's coastal waters and eastern Guangdong are expected to experience sustained winds of 20.8 to 32.7 meters per second. Areas near the storm's center could see gusts as high as 56.1 meters per second.

Meanwhile, heavy to torrential rain is expected across parts of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Taiwan. Some areas in eastern coastal Guangdong and northern mountainous regions are forecast to receive 250 to 500 millimeters of rain.

The center warned that the intense rainfall could trigger flash floods, landslides and other geological disasters in vulnerable areas.

Local governments are urged to activate emergency response measures, suspend large indoor and outdoor gatherings and halt hazardous outdoor operations.

Guangdong provincial meteorological authorities have activated their highest-level, Level I, typhoon emergency response, said Cheng Zhengquan, chief forecaster at the Guangdong meteorological bureau.

Ships operating in waters east of Zhuhai have all returned to port to shelter from the storm, and coastal tourist attractions have been closed.

The cities of Huizhou and Shanwei, which are expected to bear the brunt of the storm, have implemented comprehensive emergency measures such as halting classes, business operations, and public transportation, he said.

Residents are urged to remain indoors and prepare for flooding, landslides and damaging winds.