Typhoon Brian was the first in a series of tropical cyclones to impact southern China and northern Vietnam in October 1989.

Originating from an area of low pressure associated with a monsoon trough in late-September, Brian quickly organized into a tropical storm over the South China Sea on September 30.

Tracking along a general west-southwest to westerly course, the storm attained typhoon status on October 1 before making landfall along the southern coast of Hainan Island the following day.

In late September 1989, an active monsoon trough over the South China Sea spawned a tropical disturbance near northern Luzon.

[2][nb 1] Aided by a well-defined anticyclone, the low quickly organized, prompting the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert.

[1] After developing a large eye,[5] Brian reached its peak intensity on October 2 with winds of 150 km/h (90 mph; one-minute sustained).

[1] The JMA also classified Brian as a typhoon around this time, estimating the storm to have attained peak ten-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) as well as a minimum pressure of 970 mbar (hPa; 28.64 inHg).

[6] Many rivers across the island overtopped their banks and inundated surrounding areas, including an estimated 194,000 acres of rice paddies.

[5] Due to the severe damage caused by Typhoon Brian, the provincial flood control headquarters urged the Chinese Government to organize relief efforts at all levels.

Within two weeks of Brian's passage, Typhoons Angela and Dan struck the country, causing further damage and loss of life.