Tropical Storm Wipha Intensifies, Threatens Southern China’s Coast with Heavy Rain and Strong Winds
Tropical Storm Wipha, known internationally as Severe Tropical Storm Wipha, intensified into a typhoon as it approached southern China’s coastline in late July 2025, triggering widespread alerts and severe weather warnings across the region. Originating east of the Philippines around July 16, Wipha rapidly intensified, striking multiple countries including the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and finally making landfall on China’s southern coast near Taishan city in Guangdong province on July 20.
Wipha brought torrential rains, powerful winds, and significant storm surges, causing flooding, infrastructure damage, and flight disruptions along the coastal areas. Authorities in southern China’s provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian issued high-level warnings for floods, landslides, and wind damage as the storm lingered and moved westward towards Vietnam.
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) raised the highest tropical cyclone warning signal — the No. 10 hurricane signal — for the first time in the 2025 typhoon season. The city experienced sustained hurricane-force winds near 106 mph as Wipha skirted close by, accompanied by heavy rainfall and dangerous sea swells. This led to the suspension of most public transport, closure of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for hours, and cancellation or rescheduling of over 400 flights at Hong Kong International Airport and almost 200 flights in Macau.
Local officials set up emergency shelters, with more than 250 people seeking refuge in Hong Kong alone. Schools and workplaces in affected cities were closed as a precaution. In Guangdong’s coastal cities such as Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, and Maoming, flooding forced road closures and disruption to daily life. Construction sites, parks, ferry services, and outdoor areas were temporarily shut down to reduce risks to public safety.
Meteorologists noted that Wipha’s rapid strengthening was due to a combination of warm sea surface temperatures in the South China Sea and favorable atmospheric conditions. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the storm’s intense convective bands and sustained winds enhanced southwest monsoon rains, exacerbating flooding in southern China and adjacent regions.
Dr. Li Wei, a meteorologist with the China Meteorological Administration, explained, “Wipha is a textbook example of a tropical cyclone that gains strength quickly while interacting with local monsoon patterns. The resulting heavy rainfall and flooding risks require vigilance beyond wind damage alone.”
Residents reported frightening scenes of uprooted trees, damaged scaffolding, and power outages. “The wind was so strong, it felt like the whole building was shaking,” said Chan Mei Ling, a resident of Hong Kong’s Tsuen Wan district. Emergency services responded promptly, focusing on flood-prone neighborhoods and ensuring transportation safety.
After making landfall in Guangdong, Wipha weakened to a tropical storm but continued moving west-southwest towards Vietnam’s northern provinces, where authorities remained on alert for potential flooding and landslides.
In summary, Tropical Storm Wipha’s intensification and landfall brought significant meteorological and societal impacts to southern China. The storm tested emergency preparedness and highlighted vulnerabilities in urban and coastal areas exposed to severe tropical cyclones. Authorities continue monitoring weather developments, issuing safety advisories, and coordinating relief efforts to mitigate Wipha’s aftermath, including possible secondary flooding.
