Super Typhoon Bavi Threatens China’s Southeast Coast
Super Typhoon Bavi, the ninth named storm and second violent typhoon of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season, is bearing down on China’s southeastern coast after already leaving a trail of destruction across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorities in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai have activated emergency response protocols as the storm is forecast to approach Taiwan on July 11 before potentially making landfall in eastern China, according to Xinhua News.
A Storm of Unprecedented Intensity
Bavi underwent explosive intensification in early July, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessing peak 1-minute sustained winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) and a central pressure of 901 hPa. The storm passed extremely close to the island of Rota on July 6 at peak intensity, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone on record to strike U.S. territory. Guam International Airport recorded 15.68 inches of rain on July 4-5, with over 12 inches falling on July 5 alone, as Weather.com reported widespread damage to infrastructure, including downed power poles and structural damage at Rota’s airport.
As of July 9, Bavi has weakened below super typhoon strength due to increasing wind shear and an eyewall replacement cycle, but remains a powerful typhoon. The storm is expected to take a northwest bend, potentially passing over Japan’s Sakishima Islands before affecting Taiwan on Saturday and arriving in eastern China — possibly near Shanghai — as a tropical storm or minimal typhoon.
Emergency Response Underway
Chinese authorities are not taking any chances. The Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration activated a Level III typhoon emergency response on July 8, as reported by CCTV News. The National Flood Control Headquarters simultaneously initiated a Level IV emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.
Preparations have been extensive. According to CCTV, 205 coastal water projects in Zhejiang have stopped work, 546 construction vessels have moved to safe anchorage, 52 passenger routes have been suspended, and over 3,000 people have been evacuated from remote islands including Huaniu, Xiaoqushan, and Dachen. Maritime authorities have issued over 41,000预警 messages and deployed 72 patrol vessels, 8 large-capacity tugboats, and one professional rescue aircraft for emergency standby.
The Ministry of Emergency Management held a multi-agency coordination meeting on July 8, warning that “Typhoon Bavi is approaching aggressively. Around July 11, it may make a direct landfall in China’s southeastern region at strong typhoon level and may move northward. Disaster risks are high, and the flood control situation is severe and complex.”
Compounding Crisis: Back-to-Back Storms
Bavi’s arrival comes on the heels of Typhoon Maysak, the 10th typhoon of the season, which caused devastating floods in Guangxi with at least 6 deaths and 375,000 affected residents. Reservoir failures in Hengzhou unleashed torrents of muddy floodwater across downstream villages, with floodwaters reaching the second floors of some homes, as reported by Modern Diplomacy.
The compounding effect of back-to-back major weather events has raised concerns. Southern China’s ground is already saturated from Maysak’s rains, increasing the risk of landslides and flash flooding when Bavi arrives. The storm may also track northward after landfall, potentially affecting inland provinces already dealing with flood conditions.
Climate Context and Expert Warnings
Scientists are linking the intensity of the 2026 typhoon season to broader climate trends. Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, warned that communities have little time to recover between increasingly destructive weather events. He said stronger cyclones could bring unprecedented rainfall, triggering floods, landslides, crop losses and greater risks to human life.
China’s National Climate Center expects up to six typhoons to develop in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea during July 2026, significantly above the long-term average of 3.8. Up to three are forecast to make landfall in China, compared with the historical average of 1.8. The anticipated development of a strong El Niño pattern is expected to shift typhoon tracks westward toward China’s coastline while raising ocean temperatures, creating conditions favorable for more powerful storms.
What to Watch For
As Bavi approaches, the key concerns include the potential for widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage across Taiwan, Fujian, Zhejiang, and possibly Shanghai. The storm’s large size means that even if it weakens before landfall, a broad area could experience tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall. The effectiveness of China’s emergency response systems — already tested by Maysak — will face another critical examination as the nation braces for what scientists warn could be an unusually destructive typhoon season.