Typhoon Noul lashes Hong Kong and China with strong winds and rain

Typhoon Noul made landfall in China early Sunday morning, unleashing fierce winds and torrential rain across a significant stretch of the southern coast. State media reported the storm as the fiercest to hit the country this year, with its center crossing land near Pinghai town in Guangdong Province around 3:50 am.

At its peak intensity, Noul registered maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour (101 miles per hour), making it the strongest typhoon to strike China in 2026, according to CCTV. The severe weather forecasts prompted widespread evacuations, with authorities relocating over 340,000 people. Work and rail services were suspended, and significant flight disruptions continued throughout Sunday, with Hong Kong's airport alone canceling at least 350 departing and arriving passenger flights.

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Noul is moving steadily into inland Guangdong and weakening progressively, but gales are still affecting many places over Hong Kong, with occasional storm force winds over high ground.

In Hong Kong, the Observatory issued its second-highest storm signal, T9, overnight, later replacing it with the T8 signal. The government reported over 100 fallen trees and nine injuries. Footage shared by CCTV showed battered roads strewn with debris and small structures toppled by the powerful gusts. The typhoon is expected to move inland, bringing continued strong winds and rain to provinces like Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hubei, with precipitation potentially lasting through Tuesday in areas as far north as Henan and Shandong.

Guangdong Province elevated its disaster relief emergency response to its third-highest level on Sunday morning. The storm's impact highlights the vulnerability of coastal regions to extreme weather events and the extensive preparations required to mitigate damage and ensure public safety.

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After landfall, Noul will move inland, bringing strong winds and rain to Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces.