According to Chinese forecasters, typhoon Chaba has now become a tropical depression, but as it progresses northward over the next few days, it is still anticipated to bring heavy rain to central and eastern China.
However, during the weekend, China's first typhoon of the year brought severe rain and wind to several southern counties that were already under water after weeks of torrential rains and thunderstorms. The Central Meteorological Observatory removed the typhoon blue warning on Chaba late on Sunday.
Typhoon Chaba is a tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The name was contributed by Thailand and refers to the Chinese hibiscus.
The center of Chaba was situated in Guangxi's southern region as of early Monday morning. According to the China Meteorological Administration, it is predicted to proceed through the provinces of Hunan and Hubei in a north-easterly direction at a pace of 10 to 15 km/h.
After cities and villages in the southwest of Shishou experienced more than 40mm of precipitation, the Meteorological Station in the city of Jingzhou in the province of Hubei issued a "red alert" for a downpour at 8.45 am. Later in the morning, forecasters say there could still be more than 60mm of precipitation in the south of Shishou.
Meanwhile, a red rainfall signal was issued for the Guangdong province city of Dongguan. Local forecasters in the Guangxi region issued red rainstorm warning signals for the counties of Bobai and Luchuan, predicting heavy rain throughout most of the morning.
Forecasters predict heavy rain and strong winds in Guangdong province, the Guangxi region, and the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, and Shandong from Monday to Wednesday.
By early next week, heavy rain is expected in North and Northeast China, among other places.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus service, as well as ferry services from Hong Kong Port and Hengqin Wharf to Shenzhen Shekou and Dongao Island, are all suspended until further notice. Hengqin Port has also been closed.
Authorities said that over the weekend, more than a dozen crew members on an engineering vessel with 30 people on board went missing after it split in two in waters off Hong Kong as Chaba passed through.
Historic rainfall and flooding in southern China have destroyed property, slowed traffic, and disrupted the daily lives of millions in recent weeks.
Forecasters predicted last week that extreme weather, including unusually heavy flooding, would continue in China through August.
