China: Tropical Depression Pulasan tracking northwestward across Jiangsu Province as of early Sept. 20 /update 5

Tropical Depression Pulasan is tracking northwestward across Jiangsu Province, China, early Sept. 20, having passed over the northeastern island areas of Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Sept. 19. As of 11:00 CST, the system's center of circulation was approximately 144 km (90 miles) northwest of Shanghai.

Forecast models indicate that the weather system will strengthen back into a tropical storm as it moves over the Yellow Sea late Sept. 20 and track east-northeastward to make another landfall over South Joella Province in South Korea the afternoon of Sept. 21. The system will likely maintain its strength as it tracks east-northeastward across southern South Korea and enters the Sea of Japan through late Sept. 21. Pulasan is forecast to transition into a remnant low as it tracks east-northeastward in the Sea of Japan toward Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, through early Sept. 22. Some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast, and changes could occur in the coming days.

The China Meteorological Administration is maintaining a blue typhoon warning (the lowest level on a four-tier scale); heavy to torrential rain is forecast in parts of central and southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, northern Zhejiang, and Shanghai through the afternoon of Sept. 21, with the heaviest rainfall totals of 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) possible in southern Jiangsu and northern and eastern Shanghai. Strong winds are forecast across parts of southeastern China. Yellow rainstorm and landslide warnings are also in place over parts of the affected area.

Authorities in Zhejiang Province have raised the emergency response for typhoon prevention to Level 3 on a four-tier scale. Officials suspended over 70 ferry routes across Zhejiang, and over 350 vessels have relocated to safe waters. Twenty coastal projects in Ningbo have halted operations. Authorities have also suspended some rail services in Shanghai early Sept. 20.

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. Stagnant pools of water during and after flooding increase insect- and waterborne diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, and malaria. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.