Watch: China issues highest red alert as Typhoon Noul heads for Guangdong province

China’s national weather authority has issued a red alert, the highest warning in its four-tier typhoon warning system, as Typhoon Noul approaches the country’s southern coastline and is expected to make landfall in Guangdong province.According to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC), Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, was located about 100 km southeast of Huidong County in Huizhou City, Guangdong, late Saturday night. The storm was packing maximum winds of Force 14 near its centre, PTI cited.More than 410 flights and 150 high-speed train services were cancelled on Saturday.Landfall expected in GuangdongThe NMC said the typhoon is moving northwest at around 20 km per hour and is expected to continue strengthening before making landfall along the Guangdong coast.

After landfall, the storm is forecast to turn north-northwestward and gradually weaken, according to state-run Xinhua.Ahead of the storm, China’s state flood control and drought relief headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control in Guangdong Province to Level III. Authorities has also activated a Level IV flood emergency response for Jiangxi and Hunan provinces.The typhoon warning covers Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, affecting large parts of eastern, central and southern China. The home affairs department has opened 28 temporary shelters to accommodate residents if needed.