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.
 
THIS MEANS THAT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE
SIGNIFICANTLY AS MANGKHUT MOVES CLOSER TO HONG KONG.
 
AT 9 A.M., SEVERE TYPHOON MANGKHUT WAS CENTRED ABOUT 180
KILOMETRES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 20.8 DEGREES
NORTH 114.8 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 CHANGE GRADUALLY FROM
NORTHEASTERLIES TO EASTERLIES, AND WILL STRENGTHEN FURTHER.
THE OBSERVATORY WILL CONSIDER THE NEED FOR ISSUING THE
HURRICANE SIGNAL, NO. 10, DEPENDING ON THE LOCAL WIND
CHANGES.
 
THE CIRCULATION OF MANGKHUT IS EXTENSIVE AND WINDS ARE
FIERCE. MANGKHUT'S INTENSE RAINBANDS ARE AFFECTING HONG
KONG, BRINGING FREQUENT SQUALLS AND HEAVY RAIN. SEA WILL BE
HIGH WITH SWELLS. WHEN WIND DIRECTION CHANGES, AREAS WHICH
WERE PREVIOUSLY SHELTERED MAY BECOME EXPOSED. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC SHOULD STAY ON HIGH ALERT. 
 
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
WAGLAN ISLAND, TATE'S CAIRN AND CHEUNG CHAU WERE 122, 117
AND 79 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS 147, 151 AND
113 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 08:47 HKT ON 16.09.2018