Full Breakdown
Tropical Storm Maysak Strikes Hainan, Triggering Transport Halts and Flood Alerts
7/3/2026, 10:58:43 PM
Maysak Makes Landfall on Hainan’s Southwest Coast
On July 3 2026 at approximately 6:20 p.m. (1020 GMT), Tropical Storm Maysak struck the southwestern coast of Hainan Province with maximum sustained winds of 23 m s?¹ (?51 mph). The system is identified as the first typhoon-strength cyclone to make landfall in China this year, bringing immediate threats of torrential rain across Hainan, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan and the Guangxi region.
Meteorological Background and Forecast
Maysak is the tenth tropical cyclone of the 2026 season. The Hainan Meteorological Service upgraded the alert from Level IV to Level III at 6:30 a.m. on the day of landfall. Forecasts project rainfall of 150–250 mm in eleven cities and counties, with isolated totals exceeding 350 mm within 24 hours. The storm is expected to move northwest at 10–15 km h?¹, cross the Beibu Gulf, and potentially make a second landfall near the Guangxi-Vietnam border on Saturday.
Chronology of Alerts and Service Disruptions
- 5 a.m. – Center located 155 km southeast of Lingshui County, winds ?18 m s?¹.
- 6:30 a.m. – Typhoon alert raised to Level III.
- 2 a.m. – Passenger ferries across the Qiongzhou Strait suspended.
- 5 p.m. – Sanya Phoenix International Airport halted all take-offs and landings; 92 flights cancelled earlier.
- Evening – All round-island high-speed rail services suspended; inter-island trains cancelled for Friday and Saturday.
Quantitative Impact
- Wind speed at landfall: 23 m s?¹ (?51 mph).
- Anticipated rainfall: up to 350 mm in 24 h in parts of Hainan.
- Transport: 92 flights cancelled, full airport closure from 5 p.m.; high-speed rail halted island-wide; ferry services suspended for 1–2 days.
- Emergency response: Level IV flood-control activation for Hainan, Guangxi and Guangdong.
Official Responses and Emergency Measures
National and provincial authorities ordered heightened monitoring, evacuations from high-risk zones, and the relocation of offshore platforms and vessels. The flood-prevention task force described conditions as “severe and complex.” The Ministry of Water Resources launched a coordinated flood-control response across the three affected provinces.
Local Observations
Residents in Boao, Qionghai reported waves crashing against the shore as the storm approached. Schools in Sanya, Lingshui, Wanning and Qionghai were closed, and tourism sites—including marine, river and mountain attractions—were suspended pending weather conditions.
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
Sources differ on classification: some label Maysak a tropical storm, others a typhoon. Wind measurements vary (23 m s?¹ vs. 85 km h?¹ vs. 18 m s?¹). Rainfall forecasts range from 150–250 mm to isolated peaks of 350 mm. Only a subset of reports mention a potential second landfall near the Guangxi-Vietnam border.
Verbatim Quotes
- “• Maysak hit Hainan's southwestern coast at around 6:20 pm (1020 GMT), China's National Meteorological Center said.” — China’s National Meteorological Center
- “30am, while all round-island high-speed rail services were halted on July 3, state broadcaster CCTV reported.” — CCTV
- “Passenger ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended from 2am and were expected to remain halted for one to two days.” — CCTV
Outlook
Forecasters warn that Maysak’s slow movement may sustain heavy rain, enhancing the plum-rain front over the Yangtze basin through Monday and raising flood and landslide risks in southern China. Transport suspensions are expected to continue until conditions improve, and emergency teams remain on alert for further flooding.