CMA Upgrades Emergency Response as Typhoon Rumbia Approaches Guangdong

Typhoon “Rumbia” Approaches Guangdong Coast

As of 8:30 a.m. on July 25, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) raised its emergency response status for major meteorological disasters to Level II, citing the dual threats of the incoming typhoon and widespread severe weather. The decision was reached following comprehensive analysis and emergency consultations.

Central Meteorological Observatory data from 6:00 a.m. identifies the 12th typhoon of the year, “Rumbia,” as having intensified from a strong tropical storm into a typhoon-level system. At 5:00 a.m., the storm’s center was located in the northeastern South China Sea, approximately 450 kilometers southeast of Shanwei, Guangdong. With maximum sustained winds near the center reaching 12 levels (33 meters per second) and a central pressure of 975 hectopascals, the storm is moving west-northwest at approximately 20 kilometers per hour.

Forecasters expect the storm to continue strengthening before making landfall between Hong Kong and Huidong, Guangdong, sometime between the night of July 25 and the morning of July 26. Upon landfall, the system is expected to reach typhoon or severe typhoon intensity, with winds ranging from 35 to 42 meters per second (12 to 14 levels), before turning northward and gradually weakening.

Forecasted Impact and Wind Hazards

The CMA has issued a series of warnings to accompany the response upgrade, including a continued orange alert for the typhoon and a blue alert for severe convective weather. From 8:00 a.m. on July 25 to 8:00 a.m. on July 26, high winds are expected across a wide maritime and coastal area, including the northeastern South China Sea, the Bashi Channel, the Taiwan Strait, and the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong.

Winds in these regions are projected at 6 to 8 levels, with gusts reaching 9 to 10 levels. In parts of the Bashi Channel and the northeastern South China Sea, winds could reach 9 to 10 levels with gusts of 11 to 12. Areas near the typhoon’s center face the most severe conditions, with sustained winds of 11 to 13 levels and gusts potentially hitting 14 to 15.

Heavy Rainfall and Severe Convection Alerts

In addition to wind threats, the CMA issued an orange alert for heavy rain, warning of extreme precipitation. Significant rainfall is expected through July 26 across eastern and southern Guangdong, southern and western Fujian, and southeastern Taiwan. Specific areas in southeastern Guangdong and southeastern Taiwan are forecast to receive heavy downpours, with local areas in the southeastern Guangdong coastal region potentially seeing extreme rainfall totals of 250 to 320 millimeters.

The weather system is also bringing severe convective risks to northern and eastern China. The CMA warns that parts of North China, the Yellow River region, and the northeast parts of the Huai River region may experience thunderstorms with winds exceeding 8 levels or hail. In parts of southern Shandong, central-eastern Henan, northern Jiangsu, and southwestern Guangdong, winds could exceed 10 levels, with the CMA noting that the possibility of tornadoes in coastal Guangdong cannot be ruled out.

Regional Emergency Response Patterns

The current Level II response is part of a broader period of active weather management in China. Earlier this month, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded its flood control response for the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Level IV to Level III due to Typhoon Maysak. That event triggered persistent heavy rainfall beginning July 3, leading to severe flooding in parts of the region.

Furthermore, as of July 6, 2026, the headquarters also activated a Level IV emergency response for flood control in Anhui and Shandong provinces. The Ministry of Emergency Management has noted that heavy rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, coupled with frequent and intense storms across northern China, has placed significant pressure on local flood control infrastructure.