When Typhoon Bavi slammed into eastern China late Saturday, it brought more than just violent winds and storm surges. The storm, already the most powerful to hit mainland China this year, has now weakened to a tropical storm—but forecasters warn its true danger lies ahead. As Bavi pushes inland, a France-sized system of moisture threatens to unleash days of relentless rainfall across eastern and northern China, testing infrastructure and emergency response far from the coast. Main Developments Nearly 2 million people evacuated ahead of Bavi's arrival, most from Zhejiang province—a critical hub in China's economy. The storm made its first landfall in Yuhuan at 11:20 p.m. Saturday, then struck Yueqing around midnight. Winds tore roof tiles and toppled trees; over 1,300 trees fell in Yueqing alone, with more than 700 uprooted entirely, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Flooding reached roughly half a vehicle tire's height in some areas. Emergency crews deployed excavators and chainsaws Sunday to clear waterlogged streets. In Yueqing's mountainous north, a landslide sent boulders tumbling onto a road, while swollen rivers submerged nearby trees. Read also: Why Pakistan's Crypto Future Hinges on a Religious Ruling Background Bavi approached China after passing northern Taiwan on Saturday, dumping nearly 80 centimeters (31 inches) of rain in Miaoli county. Taiwan's fire department reported 134 injuries—mostly from motorbike falls, slips, or being struck by objects—but no deaths. The storm caused widespread transport chaos: 137 international and 62 domestic flights were canceled Sunday. In Zhejiang's capital, Hangzhou, two major train stations suspended all services, and 327 flights were canceled at Xiaoshan International Airport. Neighboring Shanghai saw 1,620 train trips and 684 flights canceled, state-backed The Paper reported. Why It Matters Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, warned that regions in Bavi's path could receive several hundred millimeters of rain in days, raising risks of flooding, landslides, and urban inundation. "Even if the storm weakens after landfall, its large circulation can continue to generate destructive weather hundreds of kilometres inland," he said. Scientists have flagged that China may face more extreme weather this year due to the expected El Niño pattern, which can intensify typhoons and shift their tracks westward toward the coast. "Rapid intensification reduces preparation time for communities and emergency managers, making these events particularly challenging," Horton added. What's Next Bavi is expected to continue churning across China, bringing prolonged and widespread rainfall to eastern and northern regions. Authorities remain on alert for further flooding, landslides, and urban inundation as the storm system slowly weakens. The full extent of damage and economic disruption will become clearer in the coming days as clean-up and recovery efforts proceed.