On October 27, the Hainan Meteorological Station announced its latest weather forecast, predicting that the influence of Typhoon “Tanmey,” the 20th typhoon of the season, along with a cold front, will create strong winds in some areas of the ocean around Hainan province from October 27 to 30. The Xisha Islands and Hainan Island are expected to experience heavy rainfall.
Typhoon “Tanmey” intensified from a strong tropical storm to a typhoon level at 11 AM on October 26, but weakened back to a strong tropical storm by 9 PM the same day and further downgraded to a tropical storm by 8 AM on the 27th. At 9 AM on the 27th, the center of “Tanmey” was located at 16.5 degrees north latitude and 108.3 degrees east longitude, approximately 50 kilometers offshore to the north of Da Nang, Vietnam, with maximum wind speeds of 23 meters per second (Grade 9).
Meteorologists project that “Tanmey” will move southwest at about 15 kilometers per hour, likely making landfall along the coast of Da Nang around midday on the 27th. After landfall, the storm is expected to rotate near Vietnam’s central coast and gradually weaken.
Data collected from October 25 to 26 indicate that the Xisha and Zhongsha Islands experienced severe wind and rain. On the 26th, Hainan Island saw localized torrential rains and strong gusts. From 8 AM on the 25th to 7 AM on the 27th, all islands and reefs in the Xisha and Zhongsha groups recorded rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters, with Coral Island and Dong Island exceeding 200 millimeters and Coral Island reaching a maximum of 352.1 millimeters. Additionally, storm gusts recorded were between Grade 12 to Grade 14, with the highest being on Chenhang Island at 42.4 meters per second (Grade 14).
From 8 AM on the 26th to 7 AM on the 27th, 55 towns and districts across 14 counties in Hainan, including Qiongzhong, Qionghai, and Wanning, reported over 50 millimeters of rain. In Qiongzhong and Qionghai, four townships exceeded 100 millimeters, with the highest at 184.3 millimeters in Zhongping Town, Qiongzhong County. The eastern and southern coastal areas of Hainan Island experienced gusts between Grade 10 to Grade 11, with a peak of 31.8 meters per second in Jiyang District, Sanya.
The Hainan Meteorological Station forecasts that from 8 AM on the 27th to 8 PM on the 30th, each island in the Xisha group may receive cumulative rainfall of 200 to 300 millimeters. The cities of Qionghai, Wanning, and Sanya could see totals of 200 to 300 millimeters, with some areas potentially reaching 400 millimeters. Haikou, Wenchang, and Chengmai may see between 140 to 200 millimeters, while Changjiang and Dongfang might receive 80 to 140 millimeters.
Officials from the Hainan weather bureau have warned that the remnants of “Tanmey,” combined with cold air, may lead to sustained strong winds in the southeastern coastal waters of Hainan Island and the central South China Sea. They urged continued vigilance regarding the safety of vessels and coastal tourism activities. From October 27 to 30, strong rainfall is still anticipated in the Xisha Islands and Hainan Island, and authorities are advised to enhance urban drainage, traffic management, and preventive measures against secondary disasters.
