The storm has forced flight cancellations, and local authorities are urging safety precautions as heavy rains and strong winds impact the region.
**Typhoon Wipha Hits Hong Kong and Macau with Intense Storm Conditions**
**Typhoon Wipha Hits Hong Kong and Macau with Intense Storm Conditions**
Typhoon Wipha is expected to strengthen as it nears mainland China, causing significant disruptions.
Typhoon Wipha unleashed chaos on the Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macau on Sunday, bringing torrential rain and ferocious winds as it edged closer to mainland China, aligning with the force of a Category 2 hurricane. The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Wipha was producing sustained winds topping 106 miles per hour, prompting alarms about high sea swells and heavy showers across the area.
The storm was on track to intensify further, targeting Macau's famed casinos before making landfall between Shenzhen and Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province later Sunday, based on predictions from China's meteorological agency. The weather service indicated that Wipha would land with winds classified at Category 2 intensity.
As the impending storm loomed, Hong Kong issued its highest warning signal, a No. 10 hurricane alert, becoming the first such activation since 2023. Similarly, Macau upgraded to an equivalent storm warning. Local officials advised residents to stay indoors and keep away from windows due to risks from debris and flying objects.
Travel disruptions cascaded through the region with reports of more than 400 flight reschedules at Hong Kong International Airport, alongside nearly 200 flight cancellations at Macau International Airport. Concurrently, authorities across southern Chinese cities closed various workplaces and ports, grounded numerous trains, and canceled additional flights to mitigate risks associated with the storm.
In Zhuhai, which lies in Wipha’s predicted path, officials shut down construction sites, parks, ferries, piers, and outdoor recreation areas, while schools and some enterprises were closed in Zhanjiang as a precautionary measure.
After striking land, Wipha is projected to traverse southern China before moving offshore again, potentially making landfall in Vietnam, as forecasted by meteorological experts. This story continues to evolve.
The storm was on track to intensify further, targeting Macau's famed casinos before making landfall between Shenzhen and Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province later Sunday, based on predictions from China's meteorological agency. The weather service indicated that Wipha would land with winds classified at Category 2 intensity.
As the impending storm loomed, Hong Kong issued its highest warning signal, a No. 10 hurricane alert, becoming the first such activation since 2023. Similarly, Macau upgraded to an equivalent storm warning. Local officials advised residents to stay indoors and keep away from windows due to risks from debris and flying objects.
Travel disruptions cascaded through the region with reports of more than 400 flight reschedules at Hong Kong International Airport, alongside nearly 200 flight cancellations at Macau International Airport. Concurrently, authorities across southern Chinese cities closed various workplaces and ports, grounded numerous trains, and canceled additional flights to mitigate risks associated with the storm.
In Zhuhai, which lies in Wipha’s predicted path, officials shut down construction sites, parks, ferries, piers, and outdoor recreation areas, while schools and some enterprises were closed in Zhanjiang as a precautionary measure.
After striking land, Wipha is projected to traverse southern China before moving offshore again, potentially making landfall in Vietnam, as forecasted by meteorological experts. This story continues to evolve.
