Typhoon Bebinca significantly impacted this week as it hit China’s east coast, making landfall near Shanghai on Monday morning.
The densely populated city, home to nearly 30 million people, faced winds reaching over 150 km/h (94 mph) as Bebinca, classified as a category 1 typhoon, struck at 7:30 am local time. This marks the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai in 75 years.
Before Bebinca, only two typhoons directly hit Shanghai, one occurring in 1949 and the other in 2022, as most tend to track further south.
The storm prompted the evacuation of over 400,000 residents, with more than 1,000 flights canceled and roads shut down due to flooding and intense winds.
Tropical Storm Pulasan to worsen Shanghai’s recovery after Bebinca’s heavy rains and floods.Bebinca continued westward across China, weakening but still causing heavy rain and flooding.
The weather forecast for Shanghai remains grim, as Tropical Storm Pulasan is moving in from the east. Pulasan developed into a severe tropical storm earlier in the week but weakened as it entered the East China Sea.
Cooler waters left by Bebinca contributed to this weakening. Pulasan is expected to further decline into a tropical depression by Friday but will likely cause further disruption as Shanghai continues to recover from the impacts of Bebinca.
Further south, Tropical Depression Soulik is bringing heavy rainfall to Vietnam. Meteorological models predict over 250 mm of rain through the weekend, with flood and landslide warnings issued.
Though not as severe as Bebinca’s impact in China, winds from Soulik may reach gusts of 60 mph, posing risks of flying debris and possible damage.