Super Typhoon Bavi to make landfall along China's east coast Saturday

China's meteorological authorities on Thursday said Super Typhoon Bavi is expected to make landfall on Saturday evening along the coast between Fuqing in Fujian Province and Wenling in Zhejiang Province. Bavi could bring strong winds and heavy rainfall as it approaches China's southeastern coast in the coming days.

At a media briefing held Thursday by the China Meteorological Administration, Xiang Chunyi, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, cautioned that Bavi's post-landfall track carries considerable uncertainty after July 13. Two main scenarios are being monitored: one in which the typhoon passes through the border area where Hubei, Anhui, and Henan provinces meet, then continues westward and gradually weakens; and another in which the system turns northeastward and gradually weakens. 

Xiang emphasized that regardless of the eventual track, it is necessary to remain highly vigilant against secondary disasters after the typhoon makes landfall.

When asked whether Bavi could match the extreme rainfall caused by Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, Xiang said it would depend on changes in the storm's path after landfall and the combined effects of multiple meteorological conditions.

China's meteorological authorities said they will continue to closely monitor the typhoon's track and provide timely updates.