Typhoon Saudel reforms over South China Sea, threatens eight major airports

A tropical depression born from the remnants of Typhoon Saudel has re-intensified into a typhoon over the northwestern South China Sea, setting up a trajectory meteorologists are calling unusual.

The storm, which had weakened and lost its official typhoon classification on Sunday after striking Zhejiang province on Friday, reformed early Tuesday and now threatens eastern and southern China with heavy to torrential rainfall over the next three days.

Flight hubs on alert

Aviation authorities have flagged eight airports as potentially affected by the revived storm: Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Zhuhai Jinwan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Fuzhou Changle, Wenzhou Longwan, Ningbo Lishe and Hong Kong International Airport, according to aviation data platform VariFlight. No large-scale flight cancellations have been announced so far.

Travellers have turned to social media to voice concern and confusion over whether their flight plans would be disrupted by the storm's unexpected return to typhoon strength.

Third strike for Zhejiang

Saudel's Friday landfall in Zhejiang marked the third typhoon to hit the eastern province this year before the storm weakened and was declassified by China's National Meteorological Centre.

Authorities are warning residents in the storm's path to prepare for floods, landslides and mudslides as heavy rainfall sweeps across the affected regions.

Source: South China Morning Post