China: Tropical Storm Gaemi tracking northwestward over Fujian Province late July 25 /update 8

Tropical Storm Gaemi is tracking northwestward across over Fujian Province, China, late July 25. The storm previously made landfall as a typhoon over Hualien County, Taiwan, late July 24 and as a tropical storm over Fujian Province during the afternoon July 25. As of 23:00 CST, the system's center of circulation was approximately 219 km (136 miles) west-northwest of Taipei, Taiwan.

Forecast models indicate that the system will weaken as it tracks northwestward over Fujian Province July 26 before weakening further into a tropical depression and then dissipating as it moves northwestward over Jiangxi Province late July 26-early July 27. Some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast, and changes could occur in the coming days.

As of late July 25, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is maintaining a red typhoon warning (the highest level on a three-tier scale) advising of strong winds in seas off the southeastern coast and in coastal areas of Fujian and southern Zhejiang provinces. Heavy-to-torrential rainfall is expected over most of Fujian, eastern Guangdong, southeastern Huanan, central and eastern Jiangxi, and southern Zhejiang provinces through late July 26.

The Taiwan Central Weather Administration is maintaining red typhoon warnings across central, northern, and western Taiwan. Purple extremely torrential rain advisories (the highest level on a four-tier scale) have been issued over much of central and southern Taiwan, and red and yellow heavy rain advisories have been issued across parts of eastern, northwestern, and western Taiwan. Strong wind advisories have been issued across many coastal areas of Taiwan.

Authorities in Taiwan have reported three weather-related fatalities and hundreds of others injured after the storm passed over north-central Taiwan on July 24. Six others are missing after a cargo ship sunk off the south coast. Officials evacuated more than 8,500 people across at-risk areas of the country ahead of the storm's approach. All domestic and hundreds of international flights were canceled from July 24-25. Authorities suspended all ferry services connecting Taitung and Green, Orchid, and Xiaoliuqiu islands July 23-25. Train services between Alishan and Chiayi stations have been suspended since July 23, while services within the Alishan Recreation Area have been halted July 24-25. Taiwan suspended parts of its annual Han Kuang war games before the storm's arrival. Financial markets, schools, and offices closed July 24-25 across most of Taiwan. Over 320,000 households were without power at the height of the storm; power has largely been restored as of late July 25.

Authorities in Fujian Province in mainland China evacuated more than 240,000 people from at-risk areas ahead of Gaemi's approach. Train services have been suspended in parts of the province, and the majority of flights at Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport (JJN) have been canceled on July 25. In the coastal areas of Fujian, many ports have been closed, ferry services have been canceled, and vessels have been ordered to return to shore. Schools and offices have been closed in many areas of the province. Some passenger ferries have been suspended, flights canceled in Zhejiang Province, and many eastbound train services have been canceled from Guangdong Province.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and those with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. If weather conditions prove hazardous, localized evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides are possible.

Inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions, rendering some bridges or roadways impassable. Flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary port closures are also possible. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.