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 1 P.M., SUPER TYPHOON SAOLA WAS CENTRED ABOUT 160
KILOMETRES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 21.9 DEGREES
NORTH 115.7 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE
WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 KILOMETRES PER HOUR TOWARDS THE
VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY.

 

RADAR IMAGERY SHOWED THAT SAOLA HAS A DOUBLE EYE-WALLED
STRUCTURE. SAOLA CONTINUES TO EDGE CLOSER TO HONG KONG AS A
SUPER TYPHOON. WINDS OVER PARTS OF HIGH GROUND HAVE REACHED
STORM FORCE. THE RAINBANDS OF SAOLA ARE AFFECTING HONG
KONG. WEATHER WILL DETERIORATE IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS WITH
HEAVY SQUALLY SHOWERS AND VIOLENT WINDS. THE GALE OR STORM
SIGNAL NO. 8 WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR MOST OF TODAY. 
 
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.
DEPENDING ON THE CHANGES IN LOCAL WINDS, THE OBSERVATORY
WILL CONSIDER ISSUING HIGHER TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING
SIGNALS BETWEEN 6 P.M. AND 10 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 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.

 

(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 13:03 HKT ON 01.09.2023