BEIJING: A powerful typhoon churning across the western Pacific Ocean could threaten China’s eastern coastline later this week, as meteorologists warned that August is likely to bring an active tropical cyclone season.
Typhoon Dolphin, this year’s 13th named storm, is moving westward at 20 to 25 kilometers per hour and is not expected to affect China’s coastal waters until Thursday, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said the typhoon could make landfall around Sunday between the Yangtze River estuary and Zhejiang province, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui.
An alternative scenario would see the storm turn northward offshore on Aug 10 or 11 before making landfall, or brushing the coast, between the Yangtze River estuary and the Shandong Peninsula, potentially affecting Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong and Liaoning.
“The track will be highly uncertain after the typhoon moves into the East China Sea,” Jia said, adding that the National Meteorological Center will continue issuing updated forecasts and warnings as the storm develops.
Meteorologists said July saw above-average tropical cyclone activity.
Five tropical cyclones formed over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea during the month, and three made landfall in China, both exceeding the historical average for July, Jia said.
The active pattern is expected to continue in August, said Xiao Chan, deputy director of the National Meteorological Center.
Six to seven tropical cyclones are forecast to develop over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea this month, above the long-term average of 5.6. Of those, two to three are expected to make landfall in China or significantly affect the country, close to the seasonal norm, he said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
