According to the national meteorological center, typhoon Ampil is very
likely to make landfall on Shanghai tomorrow morning. At 5pm, it arrived
on the waters 425 kilometers southeast to Xiangshan County in Zhejiang
Province.
It is forecast to pass through Zhoushan Islands in the wee hours
tomorrow and then make landfall on Shanghai, according to the center.
Its path may still change and officials are keeping an eye on it.
Ampil, emerged on Wednesday night on waters east of the Philippines,
arrived on waters 680 kilometers southeast of Shanghai. It is moving to
the northwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour and gaining its
strength.
Scattered rains started to hit the city from Saturday afternoon. It will
be raining cats and dogs Saturday night and Sunday, with an estimated
accumulated rainfall of up to 150 millimeters in some regions.
Donghai Bridge has been closed to vehicles in both ways except for those
serving special purposes including emergency rescue, Shanghai Road
Administration announced on Saturday afternoon.
Also speed limits have been placed on some of the city's expressways
with 100 kilometers per hour for G50, 80 kilometers per hour for G60 and
G15, and 60 kilometers per hour for the part of S32 within Qingpu
District.
According to the rail authority, all trains commuting between downtown
Shanghai and Jinshan District will be suspended on July 22.
Meanwhile, a new tropical depression has developed on the South China
Sea this morning, according to the national meteorological center.
It arrived on the waters 430 kilometers southwest to Taiwan's Cape
Eluanbi at 11am and is moving to the northeast at a speed of 19
kilometers per hour. It is expected to grow to typhoon within 24 hours.
Taiwan and Zhejiang may be affected, the center said.
