China prepares for more heavy rain from back-to-back storms

China is preparing for a prolonged period of intense rainfall as multiple storms converge on its coastal and southern areas. Typhoon Narra has already made landfall in the southern island province of Hainan, bringing heavy downpours to Guangxi, Hainan, and Guangdong after lingering over the Beibu Gulf for several days. This has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents in affected regions.

The situation is compounded by the presence of other weather systems. China's Meteorological Administration reported a rare occurrence of four tropical cyclones simultaneously active across the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea: Narra, Typhoon Saudel, and tropical cyclones Gaenari and Atsani. This multi-storm system poses a significant threat, prompting authorities to close businesses, suspend tourist operations, and implement large-scale evacuations.

Looking ahead, Typhoon Saudel is forecast to make landfall along China's eastern seaboard between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Its projected path suggests its outer rain bands could extend back towards Guangxi, prolonging the period of heavy precipitation in the south. Even as Narra moves inland, recent rainfall has already caused rivers to exceed warning levels and inundated low-lying areas in Guangxi.

Meanwhile, the storm system is impacting neighboring regions. Saudel swept across Japan's Okinawa prefecture, causing destructive winds and high seas, leading to flight cancellations and power outages for thousands of homes. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration indicated Saudel is tracking north of the island, expected to weaken but still bring moderate rainfall to parts of northern and southern Taiwan.