Maysak Forecast to Become China’s First Landfalling Typhoon of the Year

Haikou, Typhoon Maysak, the tenth tropical cyclone of the year, is forecast to make landfall in south China’s Hainan Province on Friday afternoon, prompting authorities to raise the emergency alert level and suspend rail and maritime transport services.

According to an update issued by the Hainan provincial meteorological service at 8 a.m. on Friday, Maysak is expected to make landfall along the southern coast of Hainan Island, between Sanya and Lingshui.

Should it reach the Chinese coast as forecast, Maysak will become the first typhoon to make landfall in China in 2026.

As the tropical storm continued to intensify, the provincial meteorological service upgraded its typhoon emergency response from Level IV to Level III at 6:30 a.m. on Friday.

At 5 a.m., the centre of Maysak was located about 155 kilometres southeast of Lingshui County. Maximum sustained winds near its centre were measured at 18 metres per second, equivalent to approximately 65 kilometres per hour.

The storm was moving northwestward at a speed of between 10 and 15 kilometres per hour while continuing to gain strength.

Authorities have introduced extensive transport restrictions across Hainan in response to the expected severe weather. All train services entering and leaving the island have been suspended for Friday and Saturday. Local railway services, including sections of Hainan’s island-loop high-speed rail network, have also been halted.

Roll-on and roll-off ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait, which connects Hainan with the Chinese mainland, were suspended from 2 a.m. on Friday. The disruption is expected to last between one and two days, depending on real-time weather conditions.

Heavy rainfall is forecast across much of Hainan on Friday and Saturday. Eleven cities and counties are expected to receive accumulated rainfall of between 150 and 250 millimetres, while isolated areas could experience extreme downpours exceeding 350 millimetres.

Provincial meteorological authorities have instructed offshore oil and gas platforms, fishing vessels and other ships to seek shelter immediately.

Local governments have also been urged to strengthen safety measures for fishing boats, coastal communities, mountainous tourist destinations and other areas exposed to strong winds, flooding and landslides.

Residents have been advised to closely follow official weather updates, avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert to possible flooding, landslides, high waves and transport disruptions.