Shanghai has canceled outdoor events and ordered ships to return to port due to Typhoon Bebinca, the Global Times reported.
According to the storm forecast, from the night of September 15 to the morning of September 16, Typhoon Bebinca is expected to make landfall along the coast from Taizhou in Zhejiang to Qidong in Jiangsu, eastern China.
According to the latest typhoon bulletin from the China Meteorological Administration, the possibility of Typhoon Bebinca making landfall in Shanghai is increasing. The strongest typhoon to make landfall in Shanghai was Typhoon No. 6 Gloria in 1949, with winds of 144 km/h. Typhoon Bebinca is expected to be close to typhoon Gloria in severity.
On the morning of September 15, the China Meteorological Administration issued an orange storm warning (the second most serious level on a four-level scale) and implemented measures to minimize the impact of the storm.
Some trains operating on the Yangzi River Delta were suspended on September 15 and 16. Airlines suspended flights to Shanghai and other cities in the Yangzi River Delta. More than 600 flights were canceled in Shanghai, and more than 100 flights were canceled in Hangzhou and Ningbo.
Outdoor sporting and cultural events have been adjusted or cancelled in preparation for Typhoon Bebinca's arrival.
Shanghai, home to about 25 million residents, has inspected drainage systems, deployed a 200-person emergency response force, patrolled flood relief infrastructure and lowered river levels by 2.4 meters in preparation for heavy rain and potential flooding.
Tests were also conducted at potential hazard sites, such as trees that could fall and objects that could fall from skyscrapers.
Although strong winds or heavy rain have yet to arrive, Shanghai residents have received text messages advising them to stay indoors for safety.
According to the Shanghai Maritime Monitoring Center, as Typhoon Bebinca coincides with the tide, the Yang Zi River Delta area may see waves as high as 4.8 meters inside the river mouth and as high as 7 meters outside.
Yangshan Port in Shanghai could see waves as high as 4.5 meters. The highest level wave warning was issued on the morning of September 15.
Local authorities asked all boats to return to port to avoid high waves and extremely strong winds.
Neighboring cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces are also preparing to cope with the impact of Typhoon Bebinca.
Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang and Shanghai, with some areas experiencing extremely heavy rain (100-120 mm).
Coastal areas, including Shanghai, southeastern Jiangsu, Hangzhou Bay, Yangzi River estuary and Zhoushan Islands, will see gusts of up to level 13 (133-149 km/h). Near the center of Bebinca, winds may reach level 12-14.
