TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN (SIGNAL NO. 9)


 

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN
 
HERE IS THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN ISSUED
BY THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.
 
THE INCREASING GALE OR STORM SIGNAL, NO. 9, IS IN FORCE.
 
SUPER TYPHOON MANGKHUT HAS WEAKENED SLIGHTLY INTO A SEVERE
TYPHOON.
 
AT 8 A.M., MANGKHUT WAS CENTRED ABOUT 220 KILOMETRES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 20.6 DEGREES NORTH 115.2
DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE WEST-NORTHWEST AT
ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TOWARDS THE COAST OF WESTERN
GUANGDONG.

 

MANGKHUT CONTINUES TO MOVE STEADILY TOWARDS THE COAST OF
WESTERN GUANGDONG, EDGING FURTHER CLOSER TO HONG KONG WITH
A HIGH THREAT. ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT FORECAST TRACK,
MANGKHUT WILL BE CLOSEST TO THE PEARL RIVER DELTA AROUND
NOONTIME TODAY, SKIRTING ABOUT 100 KILOMETRES TO THE SOUTH
OF HONG KONG. LOCAL WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN. THE
OBSERVATORY WILL CONSIDER THE NEED FOR ISSUING THE
HURRICANE SIGNAL, NO. 10, DEPENDING ON THE LOCAL WIND
CHANGES.
 
ALTHOUGH MANGKHUT HAS WEAKENED SLIGHTLY, ITS CIRCULATION IS
EXTENSIVE AND WINDS REMAIN FIERCE. MANGKHUT'S INTENSE
RAINBANDS ARE AFFECTING HONG KONG, BRINGING FREQUENT
SQUALLS AND HEAVY RAIN. SEA WILL BE HIGH WITH SWELLS. AS
WINDS CHANGE FROM NORTHEASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY, AREAS
WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY SHELTERED MAY BECOME EXPOSED. 
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD STAY ON HIGH ALERT, AND NOTE
THE IMPACTS OF CHANGES IN WIND DIRECTION. 
 
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STORM SURGE, A HIGH WATER LEVEL OF
ABOUT 3.5 METRES OR MORE ABOVE CHART DATUM IS EXPECTED AT
THE VICTORIA HARBOUR BETWEEN 2 P.M. AND 4 P.M TODAY; AND A
HIGH WATER LEVEL OF ABOUT 4.0 METRES OR MORE ABOVE CHART
DATUM IS EXPECTED AT TAI O BETWEEN 3 P.M. AND 6 P.M. TODAY.
THE HIGH WATER LEVEL MAY CAUSE SEVERE FLOODING IN LOW-LYING
AREAS. 
 
THE OBSERVATORY MAKES A SPECIAL APPEAL TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE, AND NOT TO
ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS.

 

IN THE PAST HOUR, THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS RECORDED AT
TATE'S CAIRN, WAGLAN ISLAND AND CHEUNG CHAU WERE 114, 94
AND 63 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS 149, 113 AND
98 KILOMETRES PER HOUR RESPECTIVELY.

 

(PRECAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS)
 
1. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. IF YOU ARE REASONABLY PROTECTED, STAY
WHERE YOU ARE. DO NOT TOUCH ELECTRIC CABLES THAT HAVE BEEN
BLOWN LOOSE.
 
2. STAY AWAY FROM EXPOSED WINDOWS AND DOORS BECAUSE GLASS,
ALREADY UNDER STRAIN FROM WIND PRESSURE, WILL SHATTER
EASILY IF HIT BY A FLYING OBJECT. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE
PLACE TO SHELTER. YOU SHOULD ONLY FIX BROKEN WINDOWS AND
DOORS WHEN THERE IS NO DANGER IN DOING SO.
 
3. PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD FIND A SAFE PLACE NOW AND REMAIN
THERE UNTIL THE DANGER IS OVER.
 
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.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 07:48 HKT ON 16.09.2018