Why Is Guangdong the Province with the Most Typhoon Landfalls? Guangdong Typhoon Archives
Guangdong sees an average of 3-4 typhoon landfalls annually, making it the province with the highest number of typhoon landfalls in China. The fundamental reason is its long coastline facing the main typhoon corridor in the South China Sea.
The Province with the Most Typhoon Landfalls in China
Statistics show that approximately one-third of all typhoons landing in China since 1949 have hit Guangdong, averaging 3-4 per year. This figure far exceeds the second-ranked Hainan and third-ranked Fujian. Cities such as Zhanjiang, Yangjiang, Shanwei, and Zhuhai are known as "hotspots" for landfalls.
Why Guangdong?
- Extensive Coastline: Guangdong has over 4,000 kilometers of mainland coastline, the longest in China, presenting the largest "target area" for typhoons.
- Facing the South China Sea Typhoon Corridor: The main path of typhoons generated in the South China Sea ("local typhoons") and westward-moving typhoons entering the South China Sea after crossing the Philippines directly faces the western coast of Guangdong.
- Westward Tracks Guided by the Subtropical High: During midsummer, when the ridge line of the subtropical high shifts northward, typhoons move westward along its southern edge, placing Guangdong directly in their path.
Types of Typhoons Affecting Guangdong
- Direct Landfall Type: Mangkhut (2018), Hato (2017) — Caused severe damage to the Pearl River Delta through storm surges and destructive winds.
- Western Guangdong Landfall Type: Rammasun (2014) made its second landfall in Xuwen, Zhanjiang, while still maintaining super typhoon intensity.
- Local Typhoons: Rapidly form and make landfall in the South China Sea, resulting in short warning times and significant challenges for disaster preparedness.
Guangdong's Typhoon Defense System
Guangdong has established a mature "Five Suspensions" mechanism (suspension of classes, work, production, transport, and business). Classes are automatically suspended when a yellow typhoon warning or higher is issued. The province has thousands of emergency shelters, and there are strict deadlines for fishing vessels to return to port and personnel on fish rafts to evacuate to shore.
Query Historical Typhoons Landing in Guangdong
The TyphoonSays landfall aggregation page includes all historical typhoons in the database with "Guangdong" listed as a landfall location, sorted in reverse chronological order. You can view the complete track map, landfall intensity, and specific landfall point for each typhoon. Historical data shows that July to September is the peak period for typhoon landfalls in Guangdong, accounting for about three-quarters of the annual total.