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 SAOLA MOVES CLOSER TO HONG KONG.
 
AT 8 P.M., SUPER TYPHOON SAOLA WAS CENTRED ABOUT 60
KILOMETRES SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG OBSERVATORY (NEAR 22.0
DEGREES NORTH 114.6 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE
WEST OR WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 12 KILOMETRES PER HOUR
ACROSS THE VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY.

 

THE EYEWALL OF SAOLA IS MOVING ACROSS HONG KONG, AND ITS
ASSOCIATED SQUALLY HEAVY SHOWERS ARE AFFECTING THE
TERRITORY. GALE TO STORM FORCE WINDS ARE GENERALLY
AFFECTING THE TERRITORY, WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ON
PARTS OF THE HIGH GROUND. IT IS EXPECTED THAT WINDS WILL
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN. THE OBSERVATORY WILL ASSESS THE
NEED FOR ISSUING THE HURRICANE SIGNAL, NO. 10, DEPENDING ON
THE LOCAL WIND CHANGES. 
 
ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT FORECAST TRACK, SAOLA WILL BE
CLOSEST TO HONG KONG AROUND MIDNIGHT, SKIRTING WITHIN
AROUND 40 KM SOUTH OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY. NORTHERLY
WINDS WILL CHANGE GRADUALLY TO EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLIES
LOCALLY. AREAS WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY SHELTERED MAY BECOME
EXPOSED. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD STAY ON HIGH ALERT.  
 
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STORM SURGE, THE WATER LEVEL IN
LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS WILL RISE RAPIDLY TONIGHT. 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 AROUND 6 METRES  ABOVE CHART DATUM NEAR MIDNIGHT, WHICH
IS ABOUT 4 METRES HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL TIDE LEVEL. THE
MAXIMUM WATER LEVEL MAY REACH A HISTORICAL RECORD. THE
WORST HIT AREAS INCLUDE SHA TIN, TAI PO, SHA TAU KOK, SAI
KUNG, ETC. THERE WILL BE SERIOUS FLOODING, THE FLOOD DEPTH
IN SOME AREAS MAY BE MORE THAN 1 METRE.

 

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 CHEUNG CHAU WERE 117, 107
AND 89 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS EXCEEDING
144, 154 AND 130 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 19:48 HKT ON 01.09.2023