Chinese authorities have evacuated more than 20,000 residents and suspended transport services as Typhoon Noul approaches the country’s southern coast, prompting emergency measures across several provinces.

The National Meteorological Center said the storm is expected to make landfall between Saturday evening and Sunday morning along the coastline between Hong Kong and Guangdong province. An orange typhoon alert, the second-highest warning level in China’s four-tier system, remains in effect.

Forecasters said Typhoon Noul could bring sustained winds of between 126 and 151 kilometres per hour, accompanied by heavy rainfall across Guangdong and neighbouring Hunan and Jiangxi provinces through Monday.

Authorities have ordered fishing vessels in Guangdong to return to port, while thousands of residents in vulnerable communities have been moved to safer locations.

The approaching storm has also disrupted transportation. Rail services in Guangdong began shutting down on Saturday, with all train operations in the province expected to be suspended on Sunday. Schools in Chaozhou have also halted on-campus activities as a precaution.

Air travel has been affected, with Cathay Pacific cancelling all flights arriving at and departing from Hong Kong International Airport for most of Sunday. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport also warned that airlines would adjust flight schedules depending on weather conditions.

Chinese meteorologists warned that the typhoon could pose a significant disaster risk because of its expected inland movement, prolonged rainfall and potential for flooding. Authorities have raised emergency response levels in affected areas to prepare for possible impacts.

The latest storm comes weeks after Typhoon Maysak caused widespread destruction in southern and central China, killing dozens of people and leaving hundreds injured after triggering severe flooding and powerful winds.

Scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events globally. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 while continuing to expand its renewable energy capacity.