Typhoon Ragasa to make landfall in China’s Guangdong on September 24
Hong Kong has shut down, and Shenzhen is evacuating of 400 000 people as Typhoon Ragasa (known in the Phillippines as Nando) moves towards China. Its earlier landfall in northern Philippines on September 22, has already claimed at least 3 lives and displaced thousands, and now it threatens to wreak havoc in southern China. Ragasa is expected to make landfall in the coastal area between Shenzhen City and Xuwen County in Guangdong Province on September 24.
Satellite image of Typhoon Ragasa at 10:00 UTC on September 23, 2025. Credit: JMA/Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
Super Typhoon Ragasa caused at least 3 deaths in the Philippines after making landfall over Panuitan Island, part of the Babuyan Islands in northern Cagayan Province on September 22. Nearly 10 000 people were evacuated from Cagayan and Apayao provinces.
While it weakened slightly after landfall, Ragasa is is still a violent typhoon as it moves toward China.
At 09:00 UTC on September 23, Ragasa was located about 365 km (230 miles) SE of Hong Kong, moving WNW at 20 km/h (12 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The system had maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) with gusts to 270 km/h (170 mph).
Ragasa is forecast to maintain its WNW track until landfall near Yangjiang just after 09:00 UTC on September 24, with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph).
After that, Ragasa is forecast to take a more westvard trajectory into northern Vietnam and Laos on Septmeber 25.
Ragasa is a large storm with a radius of approximately 320 km (200 miles) and is already affecting parts of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further later on September 23.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued Typhoon Signal No. 8, its third highest warning, at 14:20 LT (06:20 UTC) on September 23, urging businesses and transport services to suspend operations. More than 700 flights have been disrupted, including in Macau and Taiwan.
“Its storm radius is quite large, about 320 km (200 miles). Although the typhoon’s center is still some distance away, its wide, strong wind field and outer circulation are already affecting parts of Taiwan,” said the Central Weather Administration of Taiwan.
Around 1 800 homes were ordered to evacuate from villages in Hualien County, Taiwan, due to the risk of Matai’an Creek dammed lake overflowing after rainfall triggered by Ragasa.
Hurricane-force winds offshore and on high ground were likely in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with heavy rain expected to generate a significant storm surge in the city.
Authorities warned of rising sea levels, similar to those observed during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, both of which caused extensive damage.
Windows in homes and businesses across Hong Kong were taped up in an effort to reduce the impact of shattered glass.
Water levels are forecast to rise about 2 m (6 feet) along Hong Kong’s coastal areas, with maximum levels potentially reaching 4–5 m (12–15 feet). Residents have been urged to take appropriate precautions.
Local authorities distributed sandbags to residents in low-lying areas, while many stockpiled daily necessities.
Authorities in Shenzhen began preparations to evacuate more than 400 000 people ahead of the storm. Affected areas, including parts of Taiwan, could see rainfall totals exceeding 800 mm (31 inches).
Parts of mountainous eastern Taiwan have already received nearly 600 mm (24 inches) of rainfall, and at least 25 injuries have been reported as of Monday. While the rainfall is linked to Ragasa, authorities have not confirmed whether the injuries were storm-related.
More than 10 cities in Guangdong, including Shenzhen and Zhuhai, suspended work, transport services, and schools due to storm surge and high-wave warnings.
China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center said that coastal waters off Guangdong would be hit by huge to extremely rough waves up to 7 m (23 feet).
Authorities in Shenzhen prepared more than 800 emergency shelters, while in the city’s Nanshan District, teams cut tree branches along main roads in advance of the typhoon.
References:
1 Typhoon Ragasa Warning #20 – JTWC – 09:00 UTC on September 23, 2025
2 Report No. 20 of Typhoon No. 202518 – CWA – September 23, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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