Typhoon Noul weakened into a tropical storm after striking southern China on Sunday, July 26, but authorities warned that its heavy rain would continue to threaten Guangdong and neighboring regions. More than 801,000 people had been relocated for safety in Guangdong, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, as water officials raised their emergency response over the danger of mountain floods.
China's National Meteorological Center said Noul came ashore near Huidong County in the city of Huizhou at about 3:50 a.m. local time. The storm carried sustained winds of about 110 kilometers per hour near its center as it approached land, and state media described it as the strongest typhoon to make landfall in China so far in 2026.
The system also disrupted Hong Kong, where authorities reported at least 21 injuries during the typhoon period. The city's airport authority said roughly 350 flights were canceled on Sunday and about 2,000 passengers were stranded at the airport over the weekend, while strong winds and rain affected roads and other transport links.
Reuters reported that officials expected heavy to torrential rain across much of southern China for two days after landfall. Authorities urged local governments to watch flood-prone mountain and river areas, valleys, construction sites and bridges, while the Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood-control response for regions including Guangdong.
Emergency preparations had expanded as Noul intensified over the South China Sea. National and provincial agencies coordinated flood and typhoon measures, suspended or adjusted rail services and moved residents away from exposed coastal and low-lying areas. The response reflects the risks that remain after winds weaken, because concentrated rainfall can trigger flash floods, landslides and swollen rivers far inland.
Forecast agencies expected Noul to weaken progressively while moving inland, but rainfall and secondary hazards remained the immediate concern. Officials continued monitoring vulnerable districts and transport networks, and the scale of the relocations underscored the storm's regional impact even as its wind classification declined.
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