BEIJING Aug 26, 2026: China has raised its national typhoon alert from yellow to orange as two tropical storms move towards the country and several provinces remain under pressure from heavy rainfall and rising river levels.
The National Meteorological Center raised the alert on Tuesday as Typhoon Narra and Typhoon Saudel approached the Chinese coast
The orange warning is the second highest level in Chinas four tier weather warning system and signals the potential for severe weather and significant disruption
Typhoon Narra the 19th typhoon of the year was expected to make landfall between late Tuesday night and Wednesday while Typhoon Saudel the 18th typhoon of the year was forecast to reach the Chinese coast between late Thursday night and Friday morning
The arrival of the two storms comes as parts of southern China are already dealing with severe flooding and persistent rainfall
Authorities have been closely monitoring rivers reservoirs transport networks and coastal areas as forecasters warn that additional rainfall could increase the risk of flooding landslides and other weather related emergencies
Narra Approaches Southern China
As of 10 am Tuesday Typhoon Narra was located over the Beibu Gulf about 65 kilometres west northwest of Dongfang city in Hainan province
The storm was expected to move slowly northeastward at a speed of between 5 and 10 kilometres per hour
Forecasters said Narra would skim the northwestern coast of Hainan before making landfall somewhere between the southeastern part of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and the western Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province
The storm was expected to weaken rapidly after reaching land
Despite the expected weakening authorities remained concerned about heavy rainfall and strong winds particularly because several areas in southern China have already experienced severe flooding
Guangxi has faced some of its most serious flooding in decades
Fourteen rivers monitored at 20 hydrological stations in the region have exceeded warning levels by between 0.37 metres and 7.69 metres
The Mingjiang River recorded its highest flood peak since records began in 1953
Water levels on the river rose 6.69 metres above the warning level highlighting the scale of the flooding affecting the region
The Zuojiang River also recorded its highest water levels since 1986
The combination of saturated ground rising rivers and additional rainfall from Typhoon Narra has increased concerns about further flooding in vulnerable communities
Local authorities have been monitoring water levels and weather conditions while emergency agencies remain on alert for possible flooding and other hazards
Saudel Heads Towards East China
While Narra threatens southern China Typhoon Saudel is approaching from the northwest Pacific and is expected to affect the countrys southeastern coastline later in the week
As of 11 am Tuesday Saudel was located about 920 kilometres east of Taipei in the Taiwan region
The National Meteorological Center said the storm was expected to enter the East China Sea on Wednesday morning
Forecasts indicated that Saudel could make landfall along the coast between central Zhejiang province and central Fujian province from late Thursday night into Friday morning
The storm is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to coastal and inland areas
From 2 pm Tuesday to 2 pm Wednesday parts of Fujian Jiangxi Guangdong and Hainan were expected to experience torrential rain
Some locations could receive exceptionally heavy rainfall during the period
Zhejiang has already upgraded its maritime typhoon emergency response to Level IV as authorities prepare for strong winds along the coast
Forecasters have warned that heavy rain could continue across southern parts of Zhejiang through Friday
The prolonged period of rainfall is expected to place additional pressure on drainage systems rivers and other infrastructure
Recent Storm Adds to Flooding Concerns
The latest warnings come only days after another typhoon struck southeastern China
Typhoon Gaenari the 20th typhoon of the year made landfall near Quanzhou in Fujian province at about 12.30 pm on Monday
The storm brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of the province
Four rivers in Fujian exceeded alert and safety levels following heavy rainfall associated with Gaenari according to the provincial hydrology centre
The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV emergency response to flooding in Fujian on Monday and dispatched a work team to support local disaster relief operations
Fujian maintained a Level III flood control emergency response as forecasters warned that heavy rainfall would continue
Some areas were expected to receive as much as 300 millimetres of rain within 24 hours
The volume of rainfall raised concerns about further rises in river levels and the possibility of flooding in low lying areas
Local authorities have been instructed to monitor rivers and reservoirs closely and prepare for possible emergencies
Northern China Also Faces Heavy Rain
The weather threat is not limited to southern and eastern coastal provinces
In northern China Hebei province activated a Level III emergency response for major meteorological disasters as heavy rainstorms moved across the region
The provincial meteorological observatory issued an orange warning for heavy rainfall
The provincial flood control headquarters also activated a Level IV emergency response covering 10 cities
The measures reflect growing concerns about the effects of persistent rainfall on communities infrastructure and transport networks
Beijing has also activated a Level III flood control emergency response as the capital experiences significant rainfall
Authorities in the capital have been monitoring rainfall and drainage conditions while preparing for possible flooding in areas vulnerable to water accumulation
The combination of heavy rainfall in different parts of the country has placed additional demands on emergency response agencies
Authorities Remain on High Alert
The successive storms are creating a complicated weather situation for China as authorities prepare for several days of potentially dangerous conditions
Although Narra is expected to weaken after making landfall the storm could still deliver significant rainfall to areas already affected by flooding
Saudel presents another threat later in the week as it moves towards the East China Sea and the southeastern coast
The storms also come at a time when several provinces are already dealing with swollen rivers and saturated ground
Heavy rainfall following earlier storms can increase the likelihood of flash floods landslides and mudslides especially in mountainous areas
Coastal communities face additional risks from strong winds rough seas and dangerous conditions for fishing and shipping
Authorities have therefore increased monitoring of weather systems and water levels and have warned residents in affected areas to remain alert to official forecasts
The orange national typhoon warning represents a significant escalation in Chinas weather response as the country prepares for the possibility of multiple storms affecting different regions within a short period
Transport and Daily Life Could Face Disruption
Typhoons and prolonged rainfall can cause widespread disruption to transportation and public services
Airlines may adjust flight schedules when strong winds or heavy rainfall affect airports while high speed rail and road services can also face restrictions in areas exposed to flooding
Ports and fishing operations along the coast are particularly vulnerable to strong winds and rough seas
Authorities may also close roads in areas where flooding or landslides create safety risks
Residents in affected regions have been urged to follow weather warnings and take precautions as conditions develop
The immediate priority for emergency agencies is to protect lives and limit the impact of flooding particularly in communities already affected by rising rivers
With Narra approaching southern China and Saudel moving towards the southeastern coast officials are preparing for another period of difficult weather
The situation is being closely watched across the country as authorities balance the risks posed by the approaching typhoons with existing flood threats
For southern provinces the arrival of additional rainfall could further raise river levels while eastern coastal areas are preparing for strong winds and heavy rain later in the week
The latest weather developments underline the importance of continued monitoring and early emergency preparations as China enters another period of severe weather activity