City to be battered by gales during National Day

The city should brace for heavy rain and gales as Typhoon Mitag approaches, said the city’s flood prevention authority on Sunday.

Mitag will pass near Zhejiang Province on October 1 heading north. It will reach the East China Sea about 100 to 150 kilometers east of Shanghai on October 2 before dawn.

As a result, the first two days of the National Day break will see torrential rain and gales with winds around 90 kilometers per hour downtown.

The situation at coastal areas such as the Yangshan Deep-Water Port will be worse as the wind speed is expected to reach 150 kilometers per hour.

The flood prevention authority warned of high tides when Mitag hits Shanghai, which means the water level of Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek will be higher than usual, even if it doesn’t rain.

As the city is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, flags and banners hung across the city will definitely be affected by the gales. The greenbelts around the city are also expected to be confronted by hostile weather.

Inspections will be carried out at places like Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall and Xintiandi, as well as underground spaces and construction sites.

The Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, Jinshan City Beach, the Bihaijinsha Beach in Fengxian District will be temporarily closed if the weather becomes too severe, the authority added.