Tropical Storm Chaba expected to make landfall in China this weekend

This screen shot from the Hong Kong Observatory website shows the path Tropical Storm Chaba was expected to take as it edged closer to western Guangdong on June 30, 2022.

On Thursday night, the Hong Kong Observatory raised typhoon signal No. Tropical Storm Chaba edged closer to western Guangdong with 3 over the city.

The Strong Wind Signal, No., was raised by the HKO in a bulletin. At 3:40 pm, winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 kilometers per hour were expected.

The strong wind signal will remain in force until noontime Friday, and there are strong winds offshore and high ground, according to the HKO.

The HKO said it will be closely monitoring the situation, adding that it will need to issue the No. Tropical Storm Chaba is expected to be about 570 kilometers south of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and will move north-northwest at about 18 kilometers per hour towards western Guangdong, according to the HKO.

It said that the seas were rough and members of the public were advised to stay away from the shoreline and not engage in water sports.

The Ministry of Water Resources of China has activated a level-IV emergency response to possible flooding triggered by Typhoon Chaba in the country's Pearl River Basin.

The ministry has urged local departments in the southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan to take precautions against floods and mountain torrents.

Three working groups have been sent to these areas to guide local efforts to prevent damage from typhoons and heavy rainfall, said the ministry.

China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with level I being the most severe response.

The National Meteorological Center said that Typhoon Chaba, the third this year, is expected to move northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour and make landfall this weekend on the coast from east Hainan to west Guangdong.

From Friday to next Monday, typhoon-triggered gales and rainstorms are likely to hit most parts of southern China, the observatory said, warnings against mountain torrents, geological disasters and floods.

Commerce Ministry Spokesperson Shu Jueting told a press conference Thursday that the smooth operation of the necessities market during the flood season will be guaranteed, despite the fact that current supplies in downpour-affected areas are generally sufficient.