Typhoon Co-May emerged in late July as the eighth tropical cyclone to threaten China this year, following a brief weakening to a tropical depression. By July 27, meteorological data showed Co-May re-intensifying rapidly over the East China Sea, packing sustained winds up to 23 meters per second (83 km/h) and a central pressure near 995 hPa. Forecast models predicted a northwestward track at 15–20 km/h, with landfall anticipated along Zhejiang’s coast before pushing toward Shanghai.To get more news about china typhoon, you can citynewsservice.cn official website.
In Hangzhou and neighboring coastal cities, authorities initiated a Level IV emergency response before upgrading to Level III just hours before landfall. Local flood control and drought relief headquarters warned of overlapping rainbands over previously saturated regions, heightening the risk of landslides, flash floods in small river basins, and urban waterlogging. Meteorological experts highlighted the potential for 100–300 mm of rainfall in northern Zhejiang, with peak intensity from Monday night through Wednesday morning.
Early on July 30 at around 4:30 am, Co-May made its first landfall near Zhoushan, Zhejiang, where coastal winds reached 23 m/s and rainfall totals exceeded 130 mm in some ports. An hour later, it struck eastern Shanghai with slightly reduced strength but intensified coastal surges and heavy swells. The Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory swiftly upgraded its yellow rainstorm alert to orange, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid low-lying districts.3
Preemptive measures kicked into high gear. Over 282,800 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas—cliff-side villages, riverside communities, and aging port infrastructure—to safe shelters inland. Forty-seven ferry routes and dozens of offshore construction projects were suspended, while more than 450 ships took refuge in harbors. High-speed rail corridors, including the Hangzhou–Shenzhen and Ningbo–Jinhua lines, imposed speed restrictions or temporary shutdowns to minimize derailment risks.
Air travel ground to a near halt as well. Shanghai’s two major airports—Pudong and Hongqiao—cancelled roughly 640 flights combined. Nearby Ningbo Lishe and Hangzhou Xiaoshan airports each saw dozens of cancellations and overnight aircraft shelters arranged. Transportation authorities advised travelers to check status updates continuously, as shifting forecasts could prompt further disruptions throughout the day.4
Beyond immediate preparations, emergency management agencies launched hazard inspections of riverbanks, mountain slopes, and levees. Teams reinforced drainage pumping stations in urban centers and cleared debris from drainage channels to preempt flooding. In rural sectors, local volunteers distributed sandbags to reinforce embankments and informed farmers of safe harvesting schedules to avoid working in torrential rain.
Power and telecom companies activated standby crews to fix potential outages caused by downed power lines or fallen trees. Flood control engineers monitored key reservoirs and sluice gates, adjusting water levels to create buffer capacity. Meteorological services issued continuous real-time updates via satellite cloud imagery and Doppler radar, ensuring communities received accurate warnings at least 24 hours in advance.
Despite fierce winds and driving rain, initial impact reports indicated moderate structural damage—fallen billboards, uprooted trees, and localized flooding in Shanghai’s low-lying Pudong district. Ningbo’s Beilun area recorded gusts up to 36.9 m/s (133 km/h), forcing firefighters to pump chest-deep water from several residential streets. No fatalities were reported as of midday, a testament to robust evacuation protocols and early warnings.
The convergence of Typhoon Co-May with a distant tsunami alert—triggered by an 8.8-magnitude quake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula—briefly unnerved coastal watchers. China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center warned of one-meter tsunami waves potentially compounding typhoon surges. The warning was lifted later the same day, but authorities maintained heightened vigilance for sudden sea-level changes.
As Co-May weakened moving inland, rescue teams stood ready to assist with flood relief and debris clearance. Mobile hospitals geared up to treat storm-related injuries, and emergency shelters stocked staples like rice, cooking oil, and clean water. Psychological support hotlines were established to help evacuees cope with stress and displacement following severe weather events.
Looking ahead, climate scientists note a trend toward more frequent, intense typhoons in the Western Pacific. Urban planners and infrastructure engineers in China are re-evaluating flood-resilience standards, integrating green spaces to absorb runoff, and reinforcing coastal levees to withstand storm surges. Lessons from Co-May will inform upgrades to early warning systems, community drills, and cross-provincial coordination.
In retrospect, Typhoon Co-May tested the synergy of meteorology, engineering, and human preparedness. Seamless communication among local governments, meteorological bureaus, and residents averted major casualties. As reconstruction begins—repairing roads, restoring power, and dewatering flooded zones—China’s eastern provinces reaffirm their commitment to resilience, ensuring that when the next typhoon strikes, communities will be even better fortified.
