Latest news with #HKO
Time Out
a day ago
- Climate
- Time Out
The first Black Rainstorm of the year pelts Hong Kong, with rain expected until next week
Hong Kong woke up this morning on July 29 to find dark skies and extremely rainy weather. After rainfall steadily worsened, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 9.10am, which later got lowered to the Red Rainstorm Warning at 11.05am. A broad trough of low pressure is the culprit bringing showers and thunderstorms to the coast of southern China today and tomorrow. As of 10am today, the tropical cyclone Co-May was also centred around 390 km east of Wenzhou, edging closer to the coast of eastern China as it moves across the East China Sea today and tomorrow. The weather for the rest of today will mainly be cloudy with showers and squally thunderstorms, with occasional showers and thunderstorms carrying over into tomorrow. In fact, according to the HKO forecast, there will be rain every day until next Wednesday, with the finest weather on this Thursday and Friday, July 31 and August 1, expected to bring sunny intervals between showers and thunderstorms. What is a Black Rainstorm? A Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued when heavy rain exceeding 70 ml in an hour is falling or is expected to fall over Hong Kong. As of 10.50am today, more than 100 ml of hourly rainfall has been recorded, which means this is a severe rainstorm. The HKO warns that the rain is particularly heavy in the Eastern and Southern districts, where there is an increased risk of landslides. Does this mean we don't have to go to work or school? In general, if a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is issued early enough in the morning, then we don't have to physically go in to work or school. However, since most students would already have arrived at school or at least enroute by the time the signal was issued this morning, they will have to stay where they are for safety reasons. The same goes for office workers; employers should not require their employees to travel to work during Black Rainstorm conditions. If, however, you are already in office by that point, then you shouldn't attempt to leave and return home. Employees working outdoors in exposed areas should stop work and seek shelter indoors. Keep an eye on the weather at the HKO website.
RTHK
18-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
HKO mulls T3 this afternoon, higher signals on Sunday
HKO mulls T3 this afternoon, higher signals on Sunday The Observatory says Severe Tropical Storm Wipha will be "rather close" to the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday. Graphic courtesy of the Hong Kong Observatory. The Hong Kong Observatory said it will consider upgrading the Standby Signal No. 1 to a T3 warning on Saturday afternoon, and possibly higher signals early on Sunday, as Severe Tropical Storm Wipha continues to intensify as it barrels towards Hong Kong. The No. 1 signal was issued at 2.20am on Saturday, and forecasters expect the storm to continue to strengthen as it makes steady progress through the Luzon Strait. However, Wipha is projected to stay more than 500 kilometres away from the territory for Saturday morning, and the Observatory says the No. 1 signal will remain in force until at least noon, before it considers upgrading to T3 in the afternoon. "Wipha will continue to intensify and edge closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary," the Observatory said. "Its outer rainbands will gradually affect Guangdong. Winds will strengthen gradually later today. Showers will be heavy with squally thunderstorms." It urged members of the public to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports, as seas are expected to be very rough with swells. The Observatory said ti will continue to monitor the storm's position and intensity, as well as the change in local winds to assess on Saturday afternoon the need to issue higher warning signals early on Sunday.
RTHK
18-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
Standby Signal No 1 issued, T3 expected later today
Standby Signal No 1 issued, T3 expected later today Strong Wind Signal Number 3 is expected to be issued later on Saturday. Image courtesy of the HKO The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No 1 at 2:20 am on Saturday, after Tropical Cyclone Wipha moved to within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong a short while earlier. It said it will consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No 3 during the daytime on Saturday, with Wipha set to strengthen in intensity gradually. "Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday and expected to skirt around 50 kilometres from Hong Kong," the Observatory said. The weather watchdog said the weather will remain hot on Saturday, with strong winds to hit later in the day. It also urged the public to stay away from the shoreline, as thunderstorms and heavy rain will pour over the SAR on Sunday. The observatory will also consider issuing higher typhoon signals if needed. Former HKO assistant director Leung Wing-mo, meanwhile, has warned of the "significant threat" posed by Wipha to Hong Kong. The meteorologist cited data from weather prediction models, saying the storm could directly hit the SAR. "It avoided the land mass of Luzon. In that way, it will preserve its intensity as a severe tropical storm, and then it will start to intensify as soon as it gets into the South China Sea," he said. "By the time it comes closest to Hong Kong, it is already a full-blown typhoon, of typhoon intensity up to a maximum of 140 kilometres per hour. Judging from every aspect of this tropical cyclone, it's going to be a significant threat to Hong Kong."
RTHK
18-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
T3 signal looms for daytime on Saturday
T3 signal looms for daytime on Saturday The weather watchdog said the weather will remain hot on Saturday, while strong winds will hit later in the day. Image courtesy of HKO. The Hong Kong Observatory said it will consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No 3 during the daytime on Saturday, with Tropical Cyclone Wipha set to strengthen in intensity gradually. The storm will come within 800 kilometres of the city between Friday night and early Saturday and is expected to intensify progressively, the forecaster said. Wipha will edge closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary and the coast of western Guangdong afterwards. The weather watchdog said the weather will remain hot on Saturday, with strong winds to hit later in the day. It also urged the public to stay away from the shoreline, as thunderstorms and heavy rain will pour over the SAR on Sunday. The observatory will also consider issuing higher typhoon signals if needed.
Time Out
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Time Out
Tropical cyclone brings extremely hot weather to Hong Kong, with potential T8 on the weekend
It seems like we're in for another weekend of rough weather. According to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), a tropical cyclone over the east of the Philippines is moving towards the northern part of Luzon, intensifying gradually as it moves closer to western Guangdong. The cyclone is expected to enter within 800km of Hong Kong between Friday night, July 18, and early Saturday morning, July 19, so the T1 signal will be hoisted then. The outer subsiding air of the tropical cyclone is bringing very hot weather to our vicinity over the next couple of days. Temperatures across Hong Kong are extremely hot today, July 17, with the thermostat reaching a high of 35 degrees Celsius in urban areas, and a couple of degrees higher in the New Territories. HKO issued a Very Hot Weather Warning this morning and warned that there will be prolonged heat. The Home Affairs Department has also opened temporary heat shelters for people to take refuge from the scorching weather, and these 19 venues across the territories will remain open as long as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. High temperatures will persist into the weekend, with the mercury reaching 34 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday. Heavy showers triggered by high temperatures will affect Hong Kong starting from Saturday, and the tropical cyclone is expected to bring squally showers and thunderstorms from Sunday into the early part of next week. HKO will consider issuing the T3 signal during the day on Saturday. It is also forecast to be very windy on Sunday and Monday, with winds expected to reach up to force eight offshore and on high ground. On the Beaufort Wind Scale, force eight is categorised under gale force winds, which is the threshold for hoisting a T8 signal. However, whether or not there will actually be a signal-eight typhoon over the weekend remains to be seen, as the weather watchdog notes that there are still uncertainties in the tropical cyclone's movement and intensity. What's for certain, though, is that we will all need our electric fans and umbrellas ready to go over the next few days. Keep an eye on the weather forecast on .
