Typhoon Noul hits southern China as 340,000 evacuate and Hong Kong flights are cancelled

Typhoon Noul made landfall in southern China early on July 26, 2026, bringing destructive winds and intense rainfall to Guangdong province and Hong Kong after authorities evacuated more than 340,000 people and suspended major transport services.

The storm struck Huidong county in Guangdong with maximum sustained winds of about 145 kilometres per hour. Chinese authorities had issued the highest national typhoon warning before landfall and raised emergency responses across provinces facing risks from severe rain, flooding and landslides.

More than 150 flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from Hong Kong International Airport over July 25 and July 26 were cancelled. Passenger rail services in Guangdong were also suspended on Sunday as authorities attempted to reduce exposure across one of China’s most densely populated and economically important coastal regions.

Hong Kong raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 9 during the storm’s closest approach before lowering it to Signal No. 8 as Noul weakened and moved inland. Heavy rainbands, gale force winds and dangerous sea conditions continued to affect the territory even after the storm’s centre began moving away.

No widespread casualty figure had been announced during the initial post landfall period. A section of scaffolding collapsed from a high rise building in Kowloon as winds strengthened on July 25, but authorities reported no injuries from that incident.

The immediate threat is now shifting from coastal wind damage to inland flooding. Noul is expected to weaken while moving across Guangdong, but the storm’s remaining moisture could produce prolonged rainfall across southern China and neighbouring inland provinces.

Where did Typhoon Noul make landfall and how powerful was the storm when it reached Guangdong?

Typhoon Noul made landfall in Huidong county on the Guangdong coast early on Sunday, July 26. The storm arrived with maximum sustained winds of approximately 145 kilometres per hour, placing coastal communities, transport infrastructure and exposed buildings under severe pressure.

The Hong Kong Observatory recorded Noul as a typhoon with sustained winds near its centre of 145 kilometres per hour at 5 a.m. Hong Kong time. The system weakened after moving inland, falling to severe tropical storm strength with sustained winds of about 110 kilometres per hour by 10 a.m.

The landfall location placed the storm close to the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta region. This wider area includes Hong Kong, Shenzhen and several major manufacturing, technology, logistics and export centres that are closely connected through roads, railways, ports and airports.

Authorities had been preparing for the storm since Noul developed east of the Philippines and strengthened while travelling across the western Pacific. The National Meteorological Center escalated its warning to red, the highest level in China’s four tier typhoon alert system, as forecasts indicated that the storm would strike Guangdong.

China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised the flood and typhoon emergency response for Guangdong to Level III. Separate flood responses were activated for Jiangxi and Hunan because heavy rainfall was expected to continue after the centre moved away from the coast.

The storm’s weakening after landfall reduces the threat from peak sustained winds, but it does not eliminate the danger. Tropical cyclones can continue releasing large volumes of rain far inland, creating flash floods, river rises, reservoir pressure and landslides after coastal weather conditions begin to improve.

Why were more than 340,000 people evacuated before Typhoon Noul reached southern China?

Guangdong authorities relocated more than 340,000 people before the storm reached land. The evacuations focused on residents in exposed coastal areas, communities vulnerable to flooding and people living or working in structures considered unsafe during typhoon conditions.

Large scale evacuations are intended to reduce casualties from storm surge, falling construction materials, damaged buildings and rapidly rising water. Coastal fishing vessels were also directed towards sheltered locations as authorities restricted maritime activity ahead of the strongest winds.

The size of the evacuation reflects Guangdong’s population density and the concentration of homes, factories and infrastructure close to the coast. Even a relatively compact storm can affect large numbers of people when it crosses a heavily urbanised and industrialised region.

China’s emergency response also included suspending work and selected commercial activity in threatened areas. These measures can create short term economic disruption, but they reduce the number of people commuting or working outdoors when wind, debris and flood conditions become dangerous.

The government’s approach has been shaped by repeated extreme weather emergencies during the 2026 typhoon season. Typhoon Maysak caused severe flooding after striking southern China earlier in July, while Typhoon Bavi affected eastern China and forced mass evacuations across several provinces.

Noul is the third typhoon to make landfall in China during July. The rapid succession of storms has reduced the recovery time available to local governments, emergency responders and communities already dealing with damaged roads, saturated soil and elevated river levels.

How did Typhoon Noul disrupt Hong Kong International Airport and Guangdong rail services?

Hong Kong International Airport faced extensive disruption as airlines adjusted operations around the storm’s approach. More than 150 flights across Saturday and Sunday were listed as cancelled, affecting passengers travelling between Hong Kong and destinations across Asia, Europe and other global markets.

Airport Authority Hong Kong activated contingency arrangements and coordinated with the Hong Kong Observatory, the Civil Aviation Department and airport operators. The authority warned that a large number of flights could be affected and prepared a flight rescheduling mechanism for use when weather conditions allowed operations to resume safely.

Flight disruption during a typhoon can extend beyond the period of strongest winds. Aircraft, crews and passengers may be displaced across different airports, while delayed arrivals can disrupt later departures after the local warning level has been reduced.

Guangdong also suspended passenger train services on Sunday. Rail suspensions reduced the risk of trains operating through areas exposed to fallen trees, flooding, damaged power systems or debris on tracks.

The combined aviation and rail disruption affected movement across the wider Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Huizhou and surrounding cities depend on integrated transport networks that support manufacturing, tourism, business travel and cross border supply chains.

The storm therefore produced consequences beyond immediate public safety. Delayed workers, stranded travellers and interrupted freight movements can affect factories, retailers and export schedules even when physical damage to industrial facilities remains limited.

Why did Hong Kong raise Signal No. 9 and what risks remained after it was lowered?

Hong Kong raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 9 as Noul moved close to the territory early on July 26. Signal No. 9 indicates that gale or storm force winds are increasing significantly and that the centre of a powerful tropical cyclone is approaching closely enough to create severe conditions.

The No. 9 warning remained in effect for approximately six hours before the Hong Kong Observatory lowered it to Signal No. 8 at 7:10 a.m. Noul had started weakening and moving into inland Guangdong, reducing the likelihood of a further increase in local wind intensity.

Lowering the signal did not mean that normal conditions had returned. Gale force southwesterly winds continued to affect offshore locations and higher ground, while intense outer rainbands produced heavy squally showers and thunderstorms across Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Observatory warned residents to remain indoors until winds moderated and to avoid shorelines and water activities. High seas and swells can remain dangerous after a storm begins moving away because wave conditions respond more slowly than the position of the cyclone’s centre.

The partial collapse of scaffolding along Cheung Sha Wan Road in Kowloon illustrated the risks created by urban construction during powerful winds. Police received reports of the collapse on July 25, but no injuries were initially recorded.

Hong Kong’s dense concentration of high rise buildings creates a distinctive typhoon challenge. Wind can accelerate between towers, while signs, glass, temporary structures and construction materials can become dangerous even when the strongest part of a storm does not pass directly over the territory.

Could Noul’s rainfall create a greater inland danger than its coastal winds?

The most visible phase of a typhoon is often the coastal landfall, but the greatest damage can occur later through rainfall and flooding. Noul is forecast to weaken progressively inland, yet its outer rainbands remain capable of producing repeated heavy downpours.

Southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian were warned to prepare for intense rainfall before the storm’s arrival. Jiangxi and Hunan were also placed under flood related emergency responses because the storm’s moisture was expected to move northward.

Flooding becomes especially dangerous when soil is already saturated by previous storms. Water runs more quickly into rivers and urban drainage systems, while slopes become less stable and more vulnerable to landslides.

Reservoirs and flood control infrastructure may also be carrying higher water levels from earlier rainfall. Authorities must balance releasing water to create storage capacity against the risk that downstream rivers and communities may already be under pressure.

Urban flooding can interrupt electricity, public transport, telecommunications and emergency access even without catastrophic structural damage. Underground spaces, tunnels, basement car parks and low lying roads are particularly vulnerable when rainfall exceeds drainage capacity.

Rural areas face different risks, including damaged crops, isolated villages and blocked mountain roads. The full impact of Noul may therefore emerge over several days as provincial authorities assess rainfall totals, river levels and access to affected communities.

Why is China facing unusually concentrated typhoon activity during July 2026?

China’s National Climate Center forecast that as many as six typhoons could form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and South China Sea during July. That would exceed the historical July average of approximately 3.8 systems.

Authorities also expected as many as three typhoons to make landfall during the month, compared with a normal July average of about 1.8. Noul has fulfilled that higher landfall projection after Maysak and Bavi struck different parts of China earlier in July.

The country is also within its peak annual flood control period, known as Qixia Bashang, which runs broadly from mid July to mid August. During this period, tropical moisture, seasonal rainfall and swollen river systems can combine to produce severe flood emergencies across multiple provinces.

Repeated storms create cumulative strain even when each cyclone follows a different route. Emergency personnel may be redeployed from one province to another, while damaged infrastructure and displaced communities remain vulnerable to further rainfall.

Agriculture can also suffer cumulative losses when fields are flooded repeatedly or harvesting and transport are delayed. Guangdong and neighbouring provinces produce food, industrial goods and export products that depend on reliable electricity and logistics.

The concentrated storm activity is therefore testing both physical infrastructure and administrative capacity. China has extensive flood control, evacuation and emergency response systems, but simultaneous or rapidly successive disasters can expose weaknesses in local drainage, housing safety and regional coordination.

What economic and supply chain risks does Typhoon Noul create across the Pearl River Delta?

Guangdong is one of China’s largest provincial economies and a major centre for electronics, machinery, textiles, consumer goods and export manufacturing. Severe weather affecting transport and electricity can disrupt production even when factories avoid direct structural damage.

The Pearl River Delta also contains several of the world’s most active commercial gateways. Hong Kong and Shenzhen connect global shipping, aviation and financial networks with manufacturing clusters across southern China.

A short interruption may be absorbed through inventory and rescheduling. Longer disruption can delay components, finished goods and international deliveries, particularly for companies operating with tightly managed production schedules.

Typhoon related shutdowns can also affect small manufacturers more severely than large corporations. Smaller companies may have limited insurance, backup power, alternative transport arrangements or financial capacity to withstand repeated closures.

Hong Kong International Airport’s flight cancellations illustrate how weather disruption can spread beyond the immediate storm zone. Passenger and cargo networks connect Hong Kong with major cities throughout Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The ultimate economic cost will depend on the duration of flooding, the speed of transport restoration and whether industrial facilities sustain physical damage. Initial disruption was significant, but a complete assessment will require several days of inspections and operational data.

What are the key takeaways from Typhoon Noul’s landfall in Guangdong and Hong Kong?

• Typhoon Noul made landfall in Huidong county in Guangdong province early on July 26, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 145 kilometres per hour before weakening as it moved inland.
• Guangdong authorities evacuated more than 340,000 people from vulnerable communities before landfall, while fishing vessels moved into sheltered waters and emergency restrictions were imposed across exposed coastal districts.
• China’s National Meteorological Center issued a red typhoon alert, the highest level in the national warning system, while flood and typhoon emergency responses were raised in Guangdong, Jiangxi and Hunan.
• More than 150 flights scheduled through Hong Kong International Airport across July 25 and July 26 were cancelled, while Guangdong suspended passenger train services as authorities restricted movement during the storm.
• Hong Kong raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 9 for approximately six hours before lowering it to Signal No. 8 as Noul weakened and moved northward into inland Guangdong.
• A section of scaffolding collapsed from a high rise building in Kowloon during strong winds on July 25, although police reported no injuries from the incident during the initial assessment.
• Noul became the third typhoon to make landfall in China during July 2026, following Maysak and Bavi, as national forecasters warned of above average typhoon activity during the month.
• The danger will continue after coastal winds weaken because heavy rainbands could cause flash flooding, river rises, landslides and transport disruption across Guangdong and neighbouring inland provinces.