A girl walks along the promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong after the Hong Kong Observatory raised typhoon signal No. 8 due to Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae on Nov 2, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Typhoon signal No 8. will remain in force at least until 10 pm Wednesday as Tropical Storm Nalgae was expected to move closer to Hong Kong than was earlier expected, according to Hong Kong Observatory said.

In a weather bulletin, the HKO said Nalgae will skirt within 100 kilometers of Hong Kong on Wednesday night, and not 150 kilometers as was forecast earlier, with showers over the territory expected to become more frequent gradually. 

The HKO said Nalgae will skirt within 100 kilometers of Hong Kong on Wednesday night, and not 150 kilometers as was forecast earlier, with showers over the territory expected to become more frequent gradually

As of 6:45 pm, the No. 8 Northwest Gale storm signal was in force, which means winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometers per hour or more were expected from the northwest.

“The No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal will remain in force before 10 pm tonight. If Nalgae weakens further into a tropical depression, the Observatory will issue a lower tropical cyclone warning signal,” the HKO said. 

It warned the public to to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports as seas were very rough with swells.

At around 6 pm, Nalgae was centered about 120 kilometers south-southeast of Hong Kong and was forecast to move northwest at about 10 kilometers per hour edging closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary.

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In a statement, the Home Affairs Department said it has opened 26 temporary shelters in various districts, with 44 people seeking refuge.

As of 4pm, the 1823 Government Call Centre has received one report of fallen trees but there were no reports of landslides or flooding, it added.

The Education Bureau earlier suspended all classes in the territory due to the typhoon.

In a separate statement, the Social Welfare Department also urged members of the public not to take their children or family members to child care centers, centers providing after school care programs, elderly services centers or day rehabilitation units, and day activity centers due to the typhoon. 

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These centers will, however, remain open during their normal operating hours to serve those whose families cannot provide alternative care for them.