Typhoon Saudel struck the eastern coast of China for a third time on Thursday morning, hitting Fujian province after already coming ashore twice in Zhejiang province.1,9 The storm brought heavy rain, evacuations, and transport disruptions to the region.1
Where Typhoon Saudel made landfall
Saudel, the 18th typhoon of 2026, came ashore in Zhangpu County, part of the city of Zhangzhou in Fujian province on China's southeastern coast, at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 3.1,9 At landfall, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 23 meters per second near its center, according to the Fujian provincial meteorological observatory.1,9
The typhoon had already made two earlier landfalls along the coast of Zhejiang province, on China's eastern coast, on August 28.1,8 It is the seventh typhoon to hit China this year, and its earlier landfalls made it the third storm to strike the city of Yuhuan in eastern Zhejiang.8,11
Evacuations and local response
Typhoon Saudel triggered evacuations, transport disruptions, and school closures in parts of Fujian province.1 Local authorities in Fujian carried out rescue and flood drainage operations as persistent heavy rain battered the province.9
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated ahead of the storm's latest landfall, amid warnings of strong winds and heavy downpours.9 Police officers set up cordons and traffic cones to guide traffic on roads in Zhangzhou city as the storm approached.9
A three-storey house reportedly collapsed in Fujian province as the typhoon brought severe flooding to the region.10
Torrential rain and flooding across the coast
Saudel intensified again over the South China Sea, a body of water off China's southern coast, before making its third landfall along the Fujian coast.8,11 The storm has brought torrential rain and flooding to China's coastal areas.8,11
Heavy to torrential rain was forecast over eastern and southern China over the following days, with authorities warning of floods, landslides, and mudslides.3
Part of a wider pattern of severe weather in China
China frequently experiences severe flooding during summer months, and meteorologists have flagged an increased risk of extreme weather this year.4 Storms have brought death and destruction to parts of the country in recent months.4
Elsewhere in China, a mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the border with Nepal in late August, prompting rescue and relief efforts and a geological disaster risk warning from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration.5,6
Typhoon Saudel's repeated landfalls illustrate how a single storm can threaten multiple regions of China's long coastline within the space of a week.1,9 Residents in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces are advised to follow guidance from local authorities as flood and drainage operations continue.9
Check the forecast for your city to stay ahead of developing storm systems.