Typhoon Narra triggers weather alerts in southern China

China has issued a blue alert in response to torrential rains caused by Typhoon Narra, currently located in the Gulf of Beibu between southern China and northern Vietnam. The National Meteorological Center reports that the tropical depression intensified into a typhoon on Friday and is expected to remain nearly stationary over the Gulf of Beibu until Sunday, potentially reaching strong tropical storm status.

Starting Monday, the system is projected to move slowly northeast and north at speeds of 5 to 10 kilometers per hour. As it approaches coastal areas from the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong to the coast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it is expected to weaken. However, the typhoon is forecast to bring persistent, heavy rainfall and strong winds to the southern and southeastern provinces of Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian, with some areas facing “extreme levels” of accumulation.

In Guangdong, authorities have implemented a 24-hour monitoring system for water resources. In Guangxi, heavy rains have already caused river levels in the Mingjiang, Sizhou, and Pailian rivers to rise by up to 9.91 meters, with 24-hour precipitation totals reaching 310 millimeters.