Latest news with #ShumChi-tai
RTHK
19-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
T8 to be issued between midnight and 2am on Sunday
T8 to be issued between midnight and 2am on Sunday Local winds are expected to reach gale to storm force. Image courtesy of the Observatory The Observatory said it will issue the Gale or Storm Signal No 8 between midnight and 2am on Sunday, as Wipha edges closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary. Shum Chi-tai, the acting senior scientific officer, said local winds are expected to reach gale to storm force. "Adverse weather will persist during the day [on Sunday]," he said. "Depending on the distance between Wipha and Hong Kong, whether Wipha will further intensify into a typhoon and the change in local wind condition, the Observatory will assess the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals [Sunday] morning. Shum also said seas would be high with swells, and advised people to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports. He added that flooding may occur in low-lying coastal areas.
RTHK
19-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
T8 signal may be issued early on Sunday
T8 signal may be issued early on Sunday Saturday will see winds pick up speed, showers as well as squally thunderstorms. File Photo: RTHK The Hong Kong Observatory said it will consider issuing the Gale or Storm signal No 8 in the wee hours of Sunday. Severe tropical storm Wipha is forecast to move across the northeastern part of the South China sea and edge closer to the coast of Guangdong. At a press briefing on Saturday, acting senior scientific officer Shum Chi-tai said strong winds will start picking up later on Saturday. "According to the present forecast, Wipha will continue to intensify and move towards the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary today, with its outer rain bands and associated strong winds affecting the coastal areas of Guangdong gradually," he said. "Local winds will strengthen later today." There will also be more showers gradually with squally thunderstorms, according to the observatory. Flooding may occur in low-lying coastal areas tomorrow morning due to the influence of storm surges. Shum was speaking as Secretary for Home Affairs Alice Mak said her bureau had already started preparatory and prevention works ahead of the typhoon to minimise the impact of Wipha on the public. Speaking on Saturday, she said the 18 district offices, district councillors, village representatives and care team members had started on the work, particularly in outlying and low-lying areas. "Village representatives have contacted villagers in outlying areas and helped them prepare ahead of the storm," Mak said. "In some of the areas that are more easily flooded, sandbags have been put in place to prevent flooding," Mak said. "As for low-lying areas, we have closed flood gates at locations where the Drainage Services Departments have installed them," she added. Mak also said community centres and halls will be open when the No 8 is in force for use as temporary shelters. Staff will also be deployed to assist people in need, she said.
RTHK
18-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
Amber Rainstorm signal up as Wipha draws nearer
Amber Rainstorm signal up as Wipha draws nearer The downpour is going to hit Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan particularly hard, reaching over 100 and 70 millimetres per hour respectively. File photo: RTHK The Hong Kong Observatory on Friday issued the Amber Rainstorm warning signal at 11.15am as tropical cyclone Wipha edges closer to Hong Kong. According to the present forecast, the storm is 460 kilometres northeast of Manila at 10am and will move northwest at 22 kilometres per hour towards the vicinity of Luzon Strait. Wipha is expected to intensify gradually. The forecaster said rain is particularly heavy in Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan, reaching over 100 millimetres and 70 millimetres per hour respectively, which may cause flooding in those areas. It added that a Red Rainstorm warning signal may be issued depending on further weather developments. It further called on everyone to be on guard this weekend as Wipha will be closest to the city on Sunday. Speaking on an RTHK programme, acting senior scientific officer Shum Chi-tai says Wipha will bring strong winds and thunderstorms. He warned of uncertainties on the storm's track. "According to the present forecast, Wipha will be closest to Hong Kong on Sunday. But this is still subject to its distance with the Pearl River Estuary," Shum said. "Wipha is currently east of the Philippines, so we will take note of the impact on the cyclone when it passes through Luzon." Shum added that the storm will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong between Friday night and early Saturday morning, and the Observatory will issue the Standby Signal No 1 sometime during that period.
RTHK
11-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
HK to see occasional showers, thunderstorms until Sat
HK to see occasional showers, thunderstorms until Sat The Drainge Services Department confirmed six flooding reports between Wednesday night and Friday morning. File photo: RTHK Hong Kong will continue to face occasional showers and squally thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday, according to the observatory. The weather agency said it recorded more than 100 millimetres of rainfall over many places in the SAR on Thursday, with repeated amber and red rainstorm warnings during the day. Rainfall exceeded 140 millimetres in some areas. Shum Chi-tai, an acting senior scientific officer at the observatory, said the remnant of tropical storm Danas is not the only factor causing the unstable weather. "The adverse weather is not related solely to the remnants of Danas, but also the southwest monsoon. From what we see, we expect that occasional showers and squally thunderstorms will continue, and there will be some more showers tomorrow," he said on an RTHK programme on Friday. "Looking ahead, there will be an anticyclone aloft that will gradually affect Hong Kong in the coming days. Therefore, by early next week, the showers will let up and conditions will improve." The Drainage Services Department confirmed six flooding reports between Wednesday night and 8am on Friday, with all of them coming from the New Territories. Chan Hak-keung, the department's acting assistant director of operations and maintenance, said there was a flood on the San Tin Highway, two on San Tin Tsuen Road, and one each in Tai Wo Village in Pat Heung and Long Tin Road in Yuen Long. "These six locations are not flooding black spots. What happened was that mud and silt, as well as tree leaves and branches were washed into drainage inlets and roadside gullies and caused blockages. After removal works were completed, the drains were up and running again within an hour or two," he told the same radio show. Chan said more than 100 emergency response teams were dispatched to handle floods and clear blocked drains. He added that before downpours on Wednesday, his department carried out inspections and clearance work at 240 spots across the city that are prone to flooding.
RTHK
11-06-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
Observatory signals T3 decision likelier on Friday
Observatory signals T3 decision likelier on Friday The observatory said squally showers associated with Wutip are affecting the coast of Guangdong. Graphic courtesy of the observatory The Standby Signal No 1 will remain in effect on Wednesday night and Thursday morning unless tropical storm Wutip rapidly intensifies and strong winds become widespread across the region, the observatory said. Acting senior scientific officer Shum Chi-tai said Wutip is located approximately 650 kilometres southwest of Hong Kong as of 5pm and forecast to move in the general direction of Hainan and intensify. "According to the present forecast, although local winds will weaken slightly at first on Friday, they will become southerlies gradually afterwards and there will be occasional heavy squally showers," he said. "Winds may be generally strong over the territory," he said. "Depending on Wutip's intensity at that time, distance from Hong Kong and the change in local wind conditions, the observatory will assess the need to issue the Strong Wind Signal No 3 on Friday."
