Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

TYPHOON Saola, about 632 kilometers from Shenzhen at 7 p.m. yesterday, is expected to enter the South China Sea this morning, according to information released by the Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory.

The observatory issued a white alert for the typhoon at 8 p.m. yesterday.

According to the most recent forecasts, there are three potential paths that Typhoon Saola could follow after entering the South China Sea.

First, it might make landfall anywhere from Shanwei to the mouth of the Pearl River or pass within 100 kilometers offshore. In such a scenario, Shenzhen could expect heavy rainfall and strong winds, potentially prompting the issuance of a red typhoon alert, if necessary.

Another possibility is that the typhoon could make landfall east of Jieyang, resulting in some wind and rain impact on Shenzhen. The third possibility is that Typhoon Saola may not make landfall but instead pass more than 150 kilometers offshore Shenzhen. Under this circumstance, the city would still experience noticeable rains and winds, warranting a yellow (or lower) alert.