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High winds, but city set to avoid worst of Muifa
By Ni Yinbin |
August 7, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SHANGHAI weather forecasters expect strong winds over the next two days, even though the city of 23 million appeared to have escaped the brunt of Typhoon Muifa yesterday.
Though earlier forecasts put the city directly in the storm's path, it looked likely to bypass Shanghai early this morning and move further north. As a result, its impact would not be as strong as expected, weathermen said yesterday.
The once super typhoon, the highest level, weakened to typhoon level yesterday after encountering dry air on its way to China, said the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.
The bureau fixed its prediction late yesterday as Muifa changed its direction while approaching the east coast.
"The major impact should only be the big gales while the rainfall won't be as much as previously predicted," said Yao Jianqun, deputy director of the bureau's observatory.
Winds as strong as 74 kilometers an hour are forecast in downtown while the highest temperature will remain at 30 degrees Celsius.
Torrential rains will affect coastal areas of Jinshan and Fengxian districts, Pudong New Area and Chongming County, the observatory said.
The city has been on typhoon alert since Friday. 200,000 evacuated
More than 200,000 people had been evacuated from the city's coastal areas and parts of Pudong, Yangpu, Huangpu, Jiading, Fengxian districts and Chongming County by 5pm yesterday, and the number was expected to reach 300,000, said the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters.
More than 4,300 ships had anchored in the city ports to dodge the strong winds.
The government also removed more than 6,000 billboards along the streets, fastened 150,000 trees and suspended all the outdoor construction projects.
City farmers had harvested fruit and vegetables early to reduce losses to the typhoon and had saved 12,000 tons by yesterday. More than 48.6 square kilometers of greenhouses and sheds had been fastened down.
223 flights canceled
Some 223 flights were canceled in the city's two airports yesterday due to the typhoon, 149 in the Pudong International Airport and 74 in Hongqiao airport.
The massive delays and cancelation of flights should last until today.
Shen Zejiang, director of the East China Civil Aviation Administration said more flights should be scheduled after Muifa to handle the stranded passengers.
The coastal Donghai Bridge and Changjiang Tunnel-Bridge were closed yesterday afternoon.
The services of the high-speed railway and the city's Metro system were not affected yesterday.
Tourism hit
Muifa also caused a massive cancelation of touring groups set off from the city, according to the city's travelling agencies and websites.
"Most of the canceled groups were heading to Zhejiang Province," said a staffer of Shanghai Spring International Travel Service Co.
The China Pavilion will not open today due to fears about the approach of Typhoon Muifa but will reopen to the public tomorrow.
The pavilion features an open-air rooftop garden that includes ponds, stone bridges and rockery that have been stabilized or protected with shelters to ensure safety, an official with the Expo Development Group, or the operator of the pavilion, said yesterday.
Though earlier forecasts put the city directly in the storm's path, it looked likely to bypass Shanghai early this morning and move further north. As a result, its impact would not be as strong as expected, weathermen said yesterday.
The once super typhoon, the highest level, weakened to typhoon level yesterday after encountering dry air on its way to China, said the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.
The bureau fixed its prediction late yesterday as Muifa changed its direction while approaching the east coast.
"The major impact should only be the big gales while the rainfall won't be as much as previously predicted," said Yao Jianqun, deputy director of the bureau's observatory.
Winds as strong as 74 kilometers an hour are forecast in downtown while the highest temperature will remain at 30 degrees Celsius.
Torrential rains will affect coastal areas of Jinshan and Fengxian districts, Pudong New Area and Chongming County, the observatory said.
The city has been on typhoon alert since Friday. 200,000 evacuated
More than 200,000 people had been evacuated from the city's coastal areas and parts of Pudong, Yangpu, Huangpu, Jiading, Fengxian districts and Chongming County by 5pm yesterday, and the number was expected to reach 300,000, said the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters.
More than 4,300 ships had anchored in the city ports to dodge the strong winds.
The government also removed more than 6,000 billboards along the streets, fastened 150,000 trees and suspended all the outdoor construction projects.
City farmers had harvested fruit and vegetables early to reduce losses to the typhoon and had saved 12,000 tons by yesterday. More than 48.6 square kilometers of greenhouses and sheds had been fastened down.
223 flights canceled
Some 223 flights were canceled in the city's two airports yesterday due to the typhoon, 149 in the Pudong International Airport and 74 in Hongqiao airport.
The massive delays and cancelation of flights should last until today.
Shen Zejiang, director of the East China Civil Aviation Administration said more flights should be scheduled after Muifa to handle the stranded passengers.
The coastal Donghai Bridge and Changjiang Tunnel-Bridge were closed yesterday afternoon.
The services of the high-speed railway and the city's Metro system were not affected yesterday.
Tourism hit
Muifa also caused a massive cancelation of touring groups set off from the city, according to the city's travelling agencies and websites.
"Most of the canceled groups were heading to Zhejiang Province," said a staffer of Shanghai Spring International Travel Service Co.
The China Pavilion will not open today due to fears about the approach of Typhoon Muifa but will reopen to the public tomorrow.
The pavilion features an open-air rooftop garden that includes ponds, stone bridges and rockery that have been stabilized or protected with shelters to ensure safety, an official with the Expo Development Group, or the operator of the pavilion, said yesterday.
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