Eastern, southern regions brace for revived typhoon

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Typhoon Saudel has unexpectedly re-strengthened over the South China Sea, prompting heavy rain and strong wind warnings across eastern and southern China and raising concerns about flooding and landslides. This rare storm regeneration could disrupt major coastal airports and seaports, while authorities maintain alerts and urge residents to stay vigilant as the typhoon is expected to weaken later this week.

Eastern and southern regions of China are preparing for heavy to torrential rainfall over the next several days as Typhoon Saudel has re-formed over the South China Sea, prompting warnings of potential flooding, landslides, and mudslides. The storm’s unexpected revival is impacting weather conditions and operations at several major airports along the coast.

Typhoon Saudel initially made landfall in Zhejiang province on Friday, marking the third typhoon to strike the eastern province this year. After moving inland, the storm weakened and was downgraded to a tropical depression by the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) on Sunday. However, by early Monday, the system re-intensified into a typhoon over the northwestern South China Sea, an uncommon development fueled by a return to warmer ocean waters.

As of 1 p.m. on Monday, Saudel was located approximately 345 kilometers south of Shanwei, Guangdong province. The resurgence followed a rare course in which a storm moved from land back over open waters before strengthening. NMC chief forecaster Xu Yinglong attributed the regeneration to the storm encountering reduced surface friction and renewed energy from the warm sea. Weather analyst Xin Xin noted that previous storm revivals, such as Typhoons Hagibis in 2014 and Co-May in 2022, exist, but Saudel’s path from eastern China back over the South China Sea’s southern waters is unprecedented.

Authorities have issued a yellow rainstorm warning for many affected areas, the second-lowest level on China’s four-tier warning system. Heavy rain or downpours are expected over regions including southeastern Zhejiang, central and eastern Fujian, eastern Guangdong, southern Jiangxi, southern Taiwan, as well as parts of eastern Heilongjiang and northeastern Jilin. Northeastern Fujian is forecast to experience particularly intense rainfall.

In addition to significant rain, strong winds are predicted across much of the South China Sea and adjacent coastal zones, notably Hainan, southern Zhejiang, and northern Fujian. Coastal cities and residents in mountainous and river valley areas have been advised to remain vigilant against flash floods and landslides and to follow local weather updates closely.

Seaports and airports could also face disruptions, with aviation monitoring data highlighting potential impacts at Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Baoan, Zhuhai Jinwan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Fuzhou Changle, Wenzhou Longwan, Ningbo Lishe, and Hong Kong International Airport. While no major flight cancellations have been officially declared, travelers have expressed concerns and sought clarification on social media.

The Hong Kong Observatory raised the typhoon signal No. 1 on Monday following Saudel’s intensification and has indicated that the alert will remain in effect until at least Tuesday morning. Saudel is expected to move into the northeastern South China Sea later Monday and then begin to turn, gradually weakening through the week.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.