Typhoon Nida to target China after dumping over 300 mm of rain in Philippines

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

July 31,2016; 7:23PM,EDT

 

After unloading flooding rain across the Philippines over the weekend, Typhoon Nida will take aim at China early this week.
Tropical Depression 6W formed over the northwestern Pacific Ocean on Friday evening, local time, before strengthening to Tropical Storm Nida on Saturday afternoon. Nida eventually reached typhoon strength on Sunday afternoon.
Nida is known as Carina in the Philippines.
Initially, the western fringe of the system's downpours grazed the Samar and Catanduanes islands of the central Philippines. From Friday into Saturday, Catarman reported 312 mm (12.3 inches) of rain.
Latest satellite imagery of Nida. (Satellite/NOAA)
On Sunday, Nida moved along the northern coast of Luzon while maintaining typhoon-strength and bringing flooding rainfall to northern Luzon.
Over the weekend, Tuguegarao picked up 287 mm (11.3 inches) of rain.
Rain will linger in portions of western Luzon on Monday, but the heaviest of the rain will shift across the South China Sea as Nida tracks towards China.

While the storm is forecast to stay well south of Taiwan, an area of heavy rain is expected to brush southern portions of the country, generally across Taitung and Pingtung counties. Sunday night and Monday will bring the heaviest rain to these areas with isolated flash flooding possible in the mountainous terrain.
After departing Luzon, the storm will then set its sights on China.
Residents of southern China should prepare for impacts from the storm during the early and middle part of the week.
Nida is expected to gain additional strength as it churns across the South China Sea early this week. The storm could become as strong as a Category 2 hurricane before it makes landfall.
RELATED:
China interactive satellite
AccuWeather typhoon center
China forecast maps
At this time, the storm is expected to make landfall in southern China on Monday night into early on Tuesday, AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty explained.
Rain and winds will increase before the storm moves onshore.
"Southern and central Guangdong and much of Guangxi will have the highest impacts from this storm," he added.
Heavy rainfall will inundate the southern coast of China, which could lead to widespread flooding and life-threatening mudslides. A widespread area of 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) of rain will fall from Guangdong to Guangxi.

Seas will build out ahead of the storm, creating hazards for shipping interests across the South China Sea. Swimmers should be aware of the threat for rough surf and increased rip currents along the southern coast beaches.
Communities along the coast should prepare for damaging wind gusts to typhoon force. Hong Kong and Macau are included within this threat zone.
"Once inland, Nida should rapidly weaken, which will reduce the wind threat," Douty stated. "[However], the heavy rain threat could extend into Guizhou and eastern Yunnan from Wednesday into Thursday."
While there are no immediate tropical threats behind Nida, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring an area near the Mariana Islands for potential tropical development early in August.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski