Tropical cyclone closes in on Hong Kong as T1 warning to remain in force until noon Saturday, Observatory says
The Observatory said on Friday that at 6pm, the cyclone was estimated to be about 540 kilometres east-southeast of Hong Kong and was nearing the city, intensifying as it moved across the South China Sea.
It issued the Standby Signal No 1 at 12.20pm on Friday. The T1 warning is expected to remain in force at least until noon Saturday, the Observatory said.
The cyclone is expected to come closest to Hong Kong between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, maintaining a distance of around 400 kilometres from the city.
Its subsequent movement was uncertain, the Observatory said, and it was forecast to turn northwards later on Sunday toward the Taiwan Strait.
The Observatory said it would assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals between Saturday and early Sunday.
It also warned of very hot weather in the coming days, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius or above in some areas. The high temperatures could also trigger showers and squally thunderstorms, it added.
Residents should also stay away from the shoreline and refrain from water sports due to swells, the Observatory said.
Typhoon Signal 1
The No.1 signal is the 'Standby' signal. It is issued when a tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may affect the territory.
All schools and government services remain open.
All public transport remains in service.
The government advice is to take the tropical cyclone into account when planning activities and be wary of potential strong winds over offshore waters.
Climate crisis
Tropical cyclones – which get their energy from warm ocean water – are strengthening and become ever more destructive because of warming seas. Over 90 per cent of excess heat in the atmosphere is ending up in oceans, according to NASA, as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space.
The Observatory said it expected between five and eight tropical cyclones to come within 500 kilometres of Hong Kong this year, a level considered normal to above normal.
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