Typhoon -Tami- hits Sansha, Hainan, and Yongxing Island is experiencing rare -seawater intrusion-

On October 26, 2023, the 20th typhoon of the year, named “Tammei,” brought fierce winds, heavy rain, and towering waves to Sansha City in Hainan Province. The government seat located on Yongxing Island experienced an unusual phenomenon of seawater flooding.

In an interview with Xing Jun, the head of the Sansha Meteorological Station, he described the severe water accumulation on the roads of Yongxing Island. “This occurrence is quite rare for Yongxing Island,” he noted, emphasizing the unusual nature of the situation.

Weather monitoring from the Sansha Meteorological Station revealed that from 8 AM on October 25 to 10 AM on October 26, the islands of the Xisha Archipelago faced significant overcast conditions with heavy to torrential rain. Notably, Dong Island recorded an impressive 175.4 millimeters of rainfall, while Yongxing Island saw up to 125.0 millimeters.

In terms of wind speeds, the islands generally experienced gusts ranging from levels 7 to 12, with the highest gusts reaching 33.5 meters per second (force 12) on Zhao Shu Island. Yongxing Island recorded maximum wind speeds of 27.6 meters per second (force 10).

At 2:40 PM on the same day, the Sansha Meteorological Station upgraded the typhoon orange warning signal for the Xisha Xuande and Yongle Islands to a red warning signal. Winds in the affected areas are now expected to reach levels 11-12, with gusts reaching 13-14.

Moreover, the Hainan Provincial Oceanographic Forecast Station issued a level II wave warning (orange), forecasting that from noon on October 26 to noon on October 27, the sea near Xisha could experience massive waves ranging from 5.0 to 8.0 meters.