More than 300 000 evacuated as Shanghai braces for Tropical Storm “Chanthu”
Shanghai authorities have ordered the evacuation of nearly 330 000 people as the city braced for heavy rains and strong winds caused by Tropical Cyclone "Chanthu" — the 14th named storm of the 2021 Pacific typhoon season. Before reaching the coast of China, Chanthu moved over extreme Northern Luzon as a Category 5 Super Typhoon, causing devastating effects in Batanes, and passed just east of Taiwan while weakening.1
At 09:00 UTC on September 14, Chanthu was a Severe Tropical Storm located about 570 km (360 miles) west-southwest of Sasebo, Japan.2
Its maximum 10-minute sustained winds were 95 km/h (60 mph), with gusts up to 130 km/h (80 mph) while the maximum 1-minute sustained winds were 85 km/h (50 mph). The minimum central barometric pressure was 990 hPa and the system was moving ESE at 11 km/h (6.9 mph).
Chanthu is forecast to linger over sea waters between 100 and 200 km (60 – 120 miles) east of Shanghai through Wednesday, September 15 before weakening and moving northeastward away from the city on Thursday, according to the Shanghai meteorological center.3
Local authorities also have canceled 150 long-distance buses, suspended some shipping and rail transit services, and closed 112 tourist attractions.
The provincial meteorological center of east China's Jiangsu Province issued a Yellow Alert — the third-highest alert.
The education authorities in the city of Nantong, Jiangsu Province, have ordered the suspension of classes at kindergartens and primary and high schools on September 14.
Tropical Storm "Chanthu" at 08:00 UTC on September 14, 2021. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
References:
1 Category 5 Super Typhoon "Chanthu" (Kiko) impacts extreme Northern Luzon, Philippines – The Watchers
2 Tropical Storm 19W (Chanthu) Warning #33 Issued at 14/0900Z
3 Nearly 330,000 evacuated as Shanghai braces for typhoon – Xinhua
Featured image: Tropical Storm "Chanthu" at 08:00 UTC on September 14, 2021. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
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