TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN (SIGNAL NO. 8)


 

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN
 
HERE IS THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN ISSUED
BY THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.
 
THE NO. 8 NORTHWEST GALE OR STORM SIGNAL IS IN FORCE.
 
THIS MEANS THAT WINDS WITH MEAN SPEEDS OF 63 KILOMETRES PER
HOUR OR MORE ARE EXPECTED FROM THE NORTHWEST QUARTER.
 
AT 4 P.M., SUPER TYPHOON SAOLA WAS CENTRED ABOUT 130
KILOMETRES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 21.9 DEGREES
NORTH 115.3 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE
WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TOWARDS THE
VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY.

 

SAOLA CONTINUES TO EDGE CLOSER TO HONG KONG AS A SUPER
TYPHOON. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE PREVAILING OVER OFFSHORE
AREAS AND ON HIGH GROUND.  WINDS OVER PARTS OF HIGH GROUND
REACHED STORM FORCE.  HEAVY SQUALLY SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH
SAOLA ARE AFFECTING THE TERRITORY.    
 
ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT FORECAST TRACK, SAOLA WILL BE
CLOSEST TO HONG KONG TONIGHT TO TOMORROW MORNING, SKIRTING
WITHIN ABOUT 50 KM SOUTH OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY. THE
OBSERVATORY WILL CONSIDER ISSUING THE INCREASING GALE OR
STORM SIGNAL NO.9 BETWEEN 6 P.M. AND 8 P.M. TONIGHT. 
 
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STORM SURGE, THE WATER LEVEL IN
LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS WILL RISE RAPIDLY TONIGHT. THERE
MAY BE SERIOUS FLOODING. THE MAXIMUM SEA LEVEL MAY BE
SIMILAR TO THAT WHEN  MANGKHUT HIT HONG KONG IN 2018. THE
WATER LEVEL IN THE EASTERN COASTAL WATERS OF THE TERRITORY
WILL INCREASE FROM AROUND 9 P.M. TONIGHT. AMONG WHICH, THE
WATER LEVEL AT TOLO HARBOUR WILL REACH A HIGH WATER LEVEL
OF 5 METRES OR HIGHER ABOVE CHART DATUM AROUND MIDNIGHT,
WHICH IS ABOUT 3 METRES OR ABOVE HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL
TIDE LEVEL.  THE MAXIMUM WATER LEVEL MAY REACH A HISTORICAL
RECORD. THE WORST HIT AREAS INCLUDE SHING MUN RIVER, TAI
PO, SHA TAU KOK, SAI KUNG, ETC.   
 
THE WATER LEVELS OVER OTHER COASTAL AREAS OF HONG KONG WILL
ALSO START TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM AROUND 6 A.M.
TOMORROW (2 SEPTEMBER). THE MAXIMUM WATER LEVEL AT VICTORIA
HARBOUR WILL BE SOME 3 METRES ABOVE CHART DATUM. THE WATER
LEVEL IN LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS SUCH AS LEI YUE MUN WILL
BE AROUND 1.5 METRES HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL TIDE LEVEL. THE
WATER LEVEL AT TAI O WILL REACH AROUND 3.5 METRES ABOVE
CHART DATUM, WHICH IS NEARLY 2 METRES ABOVE THE NORMAL TIDE
LEVEL.  
 
SEAS WILL BE HIGH WITH SWELLS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND NOT TO ENGAGE
IN WATER SPORTS.

 

IN THE PAST HOUR, THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS RECORDED AT
WAGLAN ISLAND, TATE'S CAIRN AND GREEN ISLAND WERE 76, 72
AND 66 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS EXCEEDING 98,
98 AND 82 KILOMETRES PER HOUR RESPECTIVELY.

 

(PRECAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH NO. 8 SIGNAL)
 
1. COMPLETE ALL PRECAUTIONS IN YOUR HOME. LOCK ALL WINDOWS
AND DOORS, INSERT REINFORCED SHUTTERS AND GATES IF THEY ARE
AVAILABLE. ADHESIVE TAPE FIXED TO LARGE WINDOW-PANES IN
EXPOSED POSITIONS WILL REDUCE DAMAGE AND INJURY BY BROKEN
GLASS. DRAINS SHOULD BE CLEARED OF LEAVES AND RUBBISH AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
 
2. PARK YOUR CAR WHERE IT IS SAFE.
 
3. DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS ON THE EXPOSED SIDE OF YOUR
HOME. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SHELTER, SHOULD
WINDOWS BE BROKEN.
 
4. FLIGHTS AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MAY BE
AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR AIRLINE FOR
THE LATEST FLIGHT INFORMATION BEFORE DEPARTING FOR THE
AIRPORT.
 
5. OWNERS OF NEON SIGNS SHOULD SWITCH OFF THE ELECTRICITY
SUPPLY TO THE SIGNS.
 
6. PLEASE LISTEN TO RADIO OR WATCH TV FOR THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION BROADCAST. YOU CAN ALSO BROWSE THE HONG
KONG OBSERVATORY'S WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP FOR THE
INFORMATION.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 15:50 HKT ON 01.09.2023