Typhoon Noul makes landfall in Guangdong, prompting Level II emergency response across southern China

Typhoon Noul made landfall over Huizhou city’s Pinghai Town at 03:50 HKT on July 26 (19:50 UTC on July 25) as a severe typhoon with 10-minute maximum sustained winds reaching Force 14, equivalent to 149-165 km/h (93-103 mph).

It is the first typhoon to make landfall in Guangdong this year and the strongest to hit China so far in 2026. Rainfall rates of over 30 mm (1 inch) per hour were recorded in parts of the province as Noul moved inland.

12 cities across the province have implemented all or part of the “five suspensions,” including the suspension of classes, work, production, public transportation and business operations, Xinhua reported.

The China Meteorological Administration raised its emergency response for major meteorological disasters, including typhoons, rainstorms and severe convective weather, to Level 2 in response to Typhoon Noul.

Authorities had evacuated over 350 000 people in Guangdong by late July 25, according to the Provincial Emergency Management Department. Meanwhile, more than 715 000 people had been relocated for safety in Guangdong province, according to state-owned China National Radio. Train services in the province were canceled for Sunday, according to the China News Service.

Authorities in the Asian financial hub raised the storm alert to Typhoon Signal No 9 early on the morning as the storm passed close to Hong Kong, before downgrading it to Signal No 8 at 07:00 HKT (23:00 UTC on July 25).

At least nine people were injured in Hong Kong earlier on Saturday, July 25, as strong winds damaged buildings and structures across the city.

Typhoon Signal No 8, which keeps most businesses and transport links closed, will be in place until at least noon, the observatory said.     

At least 350 passenger flights departing and arriving from Hong Kong had been canceled on July 26, with flight operations expected to gradually return to normal starting 18:00 HKT (10:00 UTC).

Twenty flights between Singapore and Hong Kong and Shenzhen were canceled on July 26 according to Changi Airport’s flight information page. The affected flights were operated by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Twenty flights between Singapore and Hong Kong and Shenzhen were canceled on Sunday, according to Changi Airport’s flight information page. The affected flights were operated by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

The central government’s National Development and Reform Commission allocated 100 million yuan (USD14.8 million) to support Guangdong in post-typhoon recovery efforts, including reconstruction of damaged roads and infrastructure.

References:

¹ China issues orange alert as Typhoon Noul makes landfall – Xinhua – July 26, 2026

² Typhoon Noul makes landfall in south China’s Guangdong, nearly 350 000 evacuated – CCTV – July 26, 2026

Rishav Kothari

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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