Which Typhoons Have Had the Most Severe Impact on Macau in History?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Regional Typhoons · 更新 at 2026-10-19
Geographic Fate: Why Macau Is Frequently Devastated by Typhoons
Macau is located on the western bank of the Pearl River Estuary, facing the open waters of the South China Sea. It lies on a common path or high-frequency impact zone for tropical cyclones moving northward from the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea. Every summer and autumn, tropical cyclones forming in distant oceans or local waters easily trigger extreme weather here, characterized by the convergence of strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. Due to Macau's low-lying terrain, with large areas less than 2 meters above sea level, and its extremely high urban density, direct hits or close passes by strong typhoons easily cause severe storm surge inundation and waterlogging, creating immense pressure on disaster defense systems.
Historical Lessons: Super Typhoons That Changed Macau
Looking back at history, several landmark typhoons have profoundly influenced Macau's disaster prevention systems and urban memory:
- 1874 "Jiaxu Typhoon Disaster": The most tragic chapter in historical records. A devastating storm surge destroyed coastal buildings and ships, causing thousands of deaths. This disaster prompted the Portuguese administration in Macau to begin prioritizing meteorological observation and coastal protection.
- 1964 Typhoon "Ruby": A representative disaster of the mid-20th century. Strong winds and heavy rain caused severe flooding in low-lying areas, exposing the vulnerability of the drainage system at the time.
- 1983 Typhoon "Ellen": Macau hoisted the highest-level No. 10 typhoon signal. The strong and sustained winds caused widespread damage to infrastructure.
- 2017 Typhoon "Hato": The most impactful event in recent years. Making landfall in Zhuhai as a severe typhoon, it triggered record-breaking storm surges that caused severe flooding across Macau, along with power and communication outages. This directly drove a comprehensive upgrade of subsequent disaster prevention standards.
- 2018 Typhoon "Mangkhut": Although it did not make direct landfall, as a super typhoon, its vast circulation brought persistent gale-force winds and high tide levels, testing the flood control facilities built after "Hato".
Scientific Defense: Understanding Signals and Action Guidelines
Understanding the warning mechanism is key to self-rescue. According to CMA (China Meteorological Administration) standards, tropical cyclones are classified into six levels, from tropical depression to super typhoon, based on the maximum average wind speed near the center. Meanwhile, the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) uses a unique tropical cyclone signal system: No. 1 (Standby), No. 3 (Strong Winds), No. 8 (Gale Force, divided into four directions), No. 9 (Increasing Gale Force), and No. 10 (Hurricane Force).
Recommendations for Residents:
- Closely Monitor Official Releases: School and work suspension arrangements strictly follow local government announcements. Please refer to the latest guidelines issued by the Macau SAR Government and SMG, and do not trust rumors.
- Supplies and Home Preparation: Stock up on at least 3 days' worth of drinking water, non-perishable food, common medications, and emergency lighting equipment in advance. Check and reinforce windows and doors, and move flower pots and miscellaneous items from balconies indoors to prevent falling objects.
- Safety Principles: During typhoons, it is strictly prohibited to go to the seaside or riverbanks to watch waves or fish. Residents living in low-lying areas or basements should immediately move to higher ground upon receiving evacuation notices or discovering risks of water ingress.
- Post-Disaster Caution: The brief calm when the eye of the typhoon passes does not mean the end; do not go outside casually. Be vigilant against electric shock risks and avoid contacting utility poles or transformers in accumulated water.
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This article is original educational content from TyphoonSays. Please refer to the latest official announcements from local governments for policy standards.