Eastern China to face more flooding rain from Rumbia into early next week

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

August 17, 2018, 12:26:43 PM EDT

Despite weakening, Rumbia will continue to plague eastern China with flooding rain into early next week.

Rumbia made landfall early Friday morning (local time) just south of Shanghai.

More than 20,000 fishing boats returned to port as Rumbia approached the coast, according to Xinhua. Roughly 50,000 people evacuated.

While Rumbia has maintained tropical storm status in the hours since landfall, it is expected to weaken to a tropical rainstorm on Saturday.

As Rumbia weakens, the risk for sporadic wind damage will follow suit. Flooding rain, however, will remain a danger for several more days.

Rain can total 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) with AccuWeather Local StormMax of 250 mm (10 inches) as the downpours spread from Anhui and Henan to Hebei provinces this weekend.

The heaviest rain is expected to remain just south of Beijing, but can target the cities of Zhengzhou, Jinan and Tianjin.

The excessive rain can trigger significant flooding, as well as landslides in the higher terrain. Residents living in flood-prone areas should prepare for possible evacuations.

Roads can become inundated and impassible. Streams and rivers may overflow their banks, flooding neighboring land, homes and roads. Bridges can get damaged.

Download the free AccuWeather app to stay aware of flooding dangers.

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Even in the absence of flooding, motorists should anticipate slow travel and hazards. Downpours will reduce visibility, and standing water will heighten the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highways speeds.

By early next week, Rumbia is expected to lose its tropical characteristics but not the ability to drop heavy rain.

The downpours capable of causing flooding and landslides can spread to far eastern Shandong, Liaoning and southern Jilin, as well as North Korea, Monday into Tuesday.

Rainfall totals similar to what is expected this weekend may pour down on these areas, creating hazards to lives and property.

Travel disruptions and urban flooding may plague residents and commuters in the Chinese cities of Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian and Shenyang; and Pyongyang in North Korea.

As the heavy rain spreads across eastern China and into North Korea, gusty winds will keep the water of the Yellow Sea stirred and rough for boaters and swimmers.

Meanwhile, residents of South Korea and Japan have been put on alert for potential impacts from Soulik, which is strengthening and can become a powerful typhoon this weekend.

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