Shenzhen resumes flights and reopens border crossing as Typhoon Noul weakens
Shenzhen resumed flight operations, reopened its cross-border checkpoints and restored rail services at noon after Typhoon Noul weakened and moved away from the city, although authorities warned that heavy rain could continue to disrupt travel through Monday (July 27).
The Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory downgraded typhoon warnings at 11 a.m., lowering the alert to a Typhoon Yellow Alert for Dapeng New District, Dapeng Bay and Daya Bay, while the rest of Shenzhen, except the neighboring Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone, was placed under a Typhoon Blue Alert. Forecasters said maximum wind gusts of Force 8 to 10 were still expected Sunday afternoon and urged residents to continue taking precautions.
Airport operations resume
A China Southern Airlines flight takes off from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport at 12:40 p.m., July 26, becoming the first departing flight after the airport resumed operations following Typhoon Noul. Photo from WeChat account "深圳机场发布"
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport resumed flight operations around midday of July 26, with arrivals and departures restarting at about 12:40 p.m.
The airport said it planned to operate 523 passenger flights today and was working with airlines to restore normal operations following the typhoon.
However, it warned that frequent rain across Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta through Monday morning could continue to affect operations, with delays possible for some arriving and departing flights.
Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight information before traveling to the airport.
Border crossings and cross-border transport reopen
Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint reopened to passengers at 1:15 p.m., July 26 after Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities agreed to resume clearance as weather conditions improved.
Cross-border bus operators began gradually restoring services following the reopening, while airport shuttle coach services also resumed.
In Hong Kong, the MTR resumed limited East Rail Line services between Fanling and the border stations of Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, with trains operating at approximately 20-minute intervals while engineers continued clearing debris from tracks and repairing equipment damaged by the storm.
Passengers were advised to check the latest MTR service updates before traveling.
Cross-border bus services serving Wenjindu Checkpoint and Liantang Checkpoint also began resuming after the Hong Kong Observatory lowered its tropical cyclone warning signal.
Railway services and road links gradually return
China Railway Guangzhou Group began restoring passenger services at afternoon of July 26 as Typhoon Noul's impact eased.
The Guangzhou–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway resumed service at about 2:30 p.m., while the Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway is scheduled to resume operations at 7:30 p.m.
Several other rail routes, including the Guangzhou–Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway, Shenzhen–Zhanjiang Railway, Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Railway, Nanning–Guangzhou Railway and Guiyang–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, have returned to normal operations.
Railway authorities said schedules could continue to be adjusted depending on weather conditions and advised passengers to check the official Railway 12306 website or mobile app before traveling.
Vehicles travel along the Shenzhong Link in this file photo. The cross-estuary expressway reopened to traffic at 10 a.m., July 26, after authorities lifted temporary restrictions imposed as Typhoon Noul approached Guangdong. Xinhua
Road transport also resumed gradually. The Shenzhong Link, which had been closed overnight because of the typhoon, reopened to traffic at 10 a.m. after authorities lifted temporary restrictions. Officials cautioned motorists that strong crosswinds and rain were still possible on the bridge and urged drivers to reduce speed and exercise caution.
Authorities also lifted traffic controls at 11 a.m. on several expressways in eastern Shenzhen, including the Huizhou-Shenzhen Coastal Expressway (S30), Wuhan-Shenzhen Expressway (G0422), Huizhou-Yantian Expressway (G25) and Shenzhen-Shanwei Expressway (G15), restoring normal traffic after safety assessments found conditions had improved.
Heavy rain remains a concern
Fallen trees and overturned vehicles line a street in Pinghai Town, Huidong County, Huizhou, Guangdong Province on July 26, after Typhoon Noul made landfall there as a severe typhoon before dawn. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second near its center before weakening as it moved inland. Xinhua
Typhoon Noul made landfall near Pinghai Town, Huidong County, Huizhou, at about 3:50 a.m., July 26 as a severe typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second near its center before weakening as it moved inland.
Although winds have eased, Shenzhen meteorologists said showers and thunderstorms are expected to remain frequent through Monday morning, with localized torrential rain still possible across Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta.
Authorities urged residents to continue monitoring official weather forecasts and transportation updates, saying lingering heavy rain could still affect travel despite improving conditions.
China activates disaster relief emergency response for Guangdong
China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Sunday activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response for south China's Guangdong Province after the region was severely affected by Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year.
A working team has been dispatched to disaster-hit areas to assess the situation on the ground and guide and assist local authorities in the relocation and resettlement of affected residents and efforts to ensure their basic living needs.
Typhoon Noul made landfall in Guangdong on Sunday morning with maximum winds of Force 14 near its center. It has since weakened from a severe typhoon to a typhoon.
Typhoon Noul makes landfall in Huizhou's Huidong County
Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, made landfall at around 3:50 a.m. on July 26 in Pinghai Town, Huidong County, Huizhou, Guangdong Province, according to the National Meteorological Centre and the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Observatory.
It landed at strong typhoon intensity, with maximum winds near its center reaching 45 meters per second (Force 14). Noul was the first typhoon to make landfall in Guangdong this year.
Earlier, China's national observatory activated a red alert, the highest level in China's typhoon warning system, at 10 p.m. on July 25. It was the country's first red typhoon alert of the year.
From 8:00 a.m. on July 26 to 8:00 a.m. on July 27, most parts of Guangdong Province are expected to experience heavy to torrential rain. Some areas in central and eastern Guangdong will experience torrential to extremely heavy rain (250-500 mm), accompanied by short-duration heavy rainfall (maximum hourly rainfall of 30-50 mm, locally exceeding 80 mm), and localized thunderstorms, strong winds, or hail.
From 8:00 a.m. on July 26 to 8:00 a.m. on July 27, some areas in central and eastern Guangdong will experience thunderstorms with winds exceeding force 10, with maximum wind speeds reaching force 11 or higher. Some areas in southeastern Guangdong will experience hourly rainfall exceeding 50 mm, with maximums exceeding 80 mm.
As of 9:45 a.m., July 26, 17 red rainstorm warnings and 18 orange rainstorm warnings were in effect across the province.
Source: South, Xinhua, Shenzhen Daily
Photo: Nanfang Plus
