Wipha weakens after making landfall across China’s east coast by Steph Ball
Typhoon Wipha weakened quickly to a tropical storm early on Wednesday after making landfall south of Shanghai in the province of Zhejiang.
On Tuesday, Wipha had strengthened to a Super Typhoon as it trundled across the East China Sea, with winds near 155mph (250km/h). Warnings of heavy rain and strong winds were triggered for Taiwan as the storm brushed to the north of the island on route for China.
It was first predicted that Wipha might be the most powerful storm to hit China in a decade. This prompted authorities to order the evacuation of more than 2 million people from the provinces of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Fujian. Shanghai’s commercial centre was closed as were schools and major transport links. FIFA were also forced to re-schedule some of the women’s World Cup football currently taking place in China.
However as Wipha slammed into the east coast of China it failed to live up to initial predictions, quickly losing power as it hit land, with winds falling below 75mph (120km/h). Shanghai also escaped the worst of the storm, with the typhoon making landfall to its south in the province of Zhejiang. Here, there were reports of widespread floods and fallen trees.
Wipha is expected to weaken further as it continues to move inland over the next couple of days, steering northwards, to the west of Shanghai.
|
|
