On Friday, September 1, 2023, Guangdong province and its neighboring metropolis, Hong Kong, were shaken by the impact of Typhoon Saola sweeping close to the coast. The region has experienced widespread disruption, closing schools and businesses. As well as hundreds of flights canceled and a number of precautions put in place as a major storm approached. The menacing storm, which had reached super typhoon status on Thursday, was downgraded to a typhoon on Friday but retained destructive power equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, packing wind speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour.