Typhoon Noul, the 12th named storm of 2026, is closing in on the coast of Guangdong, and southern China has stepped up its defenses ahead of an expected landfall. According to forecasters, Noul strengthened on Friday from a tropical depression over waters east of the Philippines, then tracked northwest toward the eastern Guangdong coast.
As of 2 pm Friday, the center of Noul sat over the Bashi Channel, about 836 kilometers east-southeast of Shanwei in Guangdong, with maximum sustained winds near 25 meters per second. It was moving west-northwest at 25 to 30 kilometers per hour and is expected to make landfall in eastern Guangdong from late Saturday into the early hours of Sunday.
Heavy rain across southern China
Coastal and mountainous parts of Guangdong and Fujian could see cumulative rainfall of 400 to 500 millimeters. Significant rain is forecast across Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and the western Sichuan Basin, with the heaviest downpours expected to last through Sunday.
Lyu Xinyan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, said Noul is expected to turn gradually northward after landfall and weaken as it moves inland. Even so, short bursts of intense rain could still bring urban flooding, flash floods and the risk of geological hazards.
Prevention measures ramp up
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has sent a working group to Guangdong to help guide local typhoon preparations. Ships along the coast have been ordered back to port, marine and island tourism has been suspended, and authorities have tightened arrangements for moving people out of low-lying and high-risk areas.
Transport disrupted
On transport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is refining its emergency response for possible flight changes. China Railway Guangzhou Group said it would progressively suspend some high-speed and conventional train services from Saturday, with wide-scale suspensions expected by Sunday, and urged travelers to check for schedule changes in advance.
Forecasters have urged the public to follow the latest warnings closely, avoid going out where possible, and stay away from the coast, rivers and mountainous areas.
