On October 19th, the coastal waters off Fujian province encountered adverse conditions due to a cold front, leading to the suspension of ferry services between Mawei in Fuzhou and Matsu. According to the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, these routes will remain closed for passenger traffic on October 20th as well.
The Fujian Ocean Forecast Center issued a blue wave warning on the same day. They projected that from the night of October 19th to the afternoon of October 20th, the central and southern fishing grounds of Fujian might experience waves ranging from 3.5 to 5.0 meters, classified as large to gigantic waves. Meanwhile, the eastern fishing grounds, offshore areas, Taiwan shallow grounds, and the Diaoyu Islands region could see waves measuring between 3.0 and 4.0 meters. In coastal areas south of Pingtan, waves of 2.0 to 3.0 meters are expected, while areas north of Pingtan may encounter waves ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters.
As October unfolds, Fujian’s coastline transitions from the “typhoon-prone season” to the “winter gale season.” The Fujian Meteorological Station has noted that the upcoming week will see frequent cold air movements, with forecasts of northeast winds exceeding level 8, especially on October 19th, 20th, and after the 22nd. They advised that these strong winds might adversely affect shipping, coastal tourism, and fishing industries.
In the current climate, the exchange of personnel between Fujian and Taiwan has noticeably increased. Statistics indicate that in the first three quarters of this year, 650,000 individuals from Taiwan have entered through Fujian’s ports, marking a significant year-on-year increase of 73.5%.
