China issues red alert as Typhoon Noul closes in on Guangdong coast

Beijing,UPDATED: Jul 26, 2026 08:08 IST

China's national observatory has issued a red alert, the highest warning in the country's typhoon system, as Typhoon Noul approaches the coast. The storm, the 12th typhoon of the year, is expected to make landfall along the coast of south China's Guangdong Province.

Authorities have stepped up emergency measures in parts of eastern, central and southern China as the typhoon moves closer. In Hong Kong, officials have begun emergency preparations, with flights and train services cancelled and shelters opened ahead of the storm.

The Meteorological Centre issued the alert late on Saturday night. It said the centre of Typhoon Noul was about 100 km offshore to the south-east of Huidong County in Huizhou City, Guangdong, late that night, with maximum winds near the centre reaching Force 14.

The centre said the typhoon is expected to move north-westward at around 20 kmph while continuing to strengthen. After making landfall, it is expected to turn north-north-westward and gradually weaken, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Saturday, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control in Guangdong Province to Level III. It also activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Jiangxi and Hunan provinces.

China has a four-tier, colour-coded weather warning system for typhoons, with red as the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The regions involved are Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, covering large parts of eastern, central and southern China.

Officials in Hong Kong on Saturday started emergency measures as Typhoon Noul approached. More than 410 flights and 150 high-speed train services were cancelled, while the Home Affairs Department opened 28 shelters in anticipation of the storm.

Overall, China has issued its highest typhoon warning as Noul heads towards Guangdong, with emergency responses raised in several provinces and transport services disrupted in Hong Kong before the storm's arrival.

With PTI Inputs

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