A woman takes a selfie at a promenade next to Victoria Harbour as Typhoon Chaba passes Hong Kong on July 2, 2022. (BERTHA WANG / AFP)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Observatory raised Typhoon Signal No 1 at 9:10 pm on Tuesday as Severe Tropical Storm Ma-on moved closer to the city.
In a weather advisory, the Observatory said the tropical cyclone will move across the northeastern part of the South China Sea in the next couple of days, edging closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary and intensifying gradually.
There will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms over the region, the HKO said
“It is expected to come within 800 km of Hong Kong tonight. The Observatory will consider issuing the Standby Signal No.1 then,” the HKO said.
At 8 pm, Ma-on was centered about 470 kilometers east-southeast of Dongsha. It is forecast to move northwest or west-northwest at about 22 kilometers per hour across the northeast part of the South China Sea.
There will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms over the region, the HKO said.
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The weather will be windy and seas will be high with swells, and will lead to storm surge. The landfall intensity of Ma-on still remain uncertain, according to the forecaster.
"With the anticyclone aloft strengthening gradually, the weather will improve over the coastal areas of Guangdong in the latter part of this week."