This file photo taken on July 2, 2022, shows people standing by the shore as Typhoon Chaba passes Hong Kong. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Observatory has raised typhoon signal No 8 as Severe Tropical Storm Ma-on edged closer to the city.
In a weather warning, the HKO said the No 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 7:25 pm, which means that winds with mean speeds 63 to 87 kilometers per hour are expected.
The outer rainbands associated with Ma-on are edging close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary. There will be squally showers and thunderstorms over Hong Kong later today and local winds will strengthen rapidly tonight
Hong Kong Observatory
“The outer rainbands associated with Ma-on are edging close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary. There will be squally showers and thunderstorms over Hong Kong later today and local winds will strengthen rapidly tonight,” the HKO said.
As of 1 pm, Ma-on was estimated to be about 440 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong and was forecast to move west-northwest at about 25 kilometers per hour in the general direction of the coast of western Guangdong.
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Ma-on is expected to be closest to Hong Kong tomorrow morning and may skirt within about 200 kilometers south-southwest of the SAR, posing “a considerable threat to the territory,” the HKO said.
Due to the storm surge and high tide, a high water level of about 1 meter above the normal tide heights is expected at Quarry Bay between 5 am and 9 am tomorrow. The high water level may cause flooding in low-lying areas, it added.