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 WIPHA MOVES CLOSER TO HONG KONG.
 
AT 9 A.M., TYPHOON WIPHA WAS CENTRED ABOUT 70 KILOMETRES
SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG OBSERVATORY (NEAR 21.8 DEGREES NORTH
114.6 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE WEST OR
WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 25 KILOMETRES PER HOUR EDGING
CLOSER TO THE VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY.

 

WITH WIPHA EDGING CLOSER TO THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY, LOCAL
WINDS ARE STRENGTHENING FURTHER. LOCALLY, STORM FORCE WINDS
ARE AFFECTING OFFSHORE WATERS AND HIGH GROUND. HEAVY
SQUALLY SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH WIPHA ARE AFFECTING HONG
KONG. 
 
ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT FORECAST, WIPHA WILL BE CLOSEST TO
HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS, AND WILL SKIRT AROUND 50
KILOMETRES TO THE SOUTH OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY
TOWARDS NOON. LOCAL WINDS WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE FROM
NORTHERLIES TO EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLIES. AREAS WHICH WERE
PREVIOUSLY SHELTERED MAY BECOME EXPOSED. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC SHOULD STAY ON HIGH ALERT. DEPENDING ON THE CHANGES
IN LOCAL WINDS, THE OBSERVATORY WILL ASSESS THE NEED FOR
ISSUING THE HURRICANE SIGNAL, NO. 10. 
 
LOCAL WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE PERSISTENTLY ADVERSE WITH
HEAVY SQUALLY SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TODAY. 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.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STORM SURGE, THE WATER LEVEL ROSE TO
ABOUT 3 METRES ABOVE CHART DATUM AT TAI PO KAU THIS
MORNING. THERE MAY BE FLOODING OVER PARTS OF THE LOW-LYING
COASTAL AREAS IN THE TERRITORY.

 

IN THE PAST HOUR, THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS RECORDED AT
WAGLAN ISLAND, TATE'S CAIRN AND GREEN ISLAND WERE 103, 97
AND 66 KILOMETRES PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS EXCEEDING
120, 125 AND 87 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. IF THE EYE OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE PASSES DIRECTLY OVER
HONG KONG, THERE MAY BE A TEMPORARY LULL LASTING FROM A FEW
MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN
RESUMPTION OF VIOLENT WINDS FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE IF PROTECTED AND BE PREPARED FOR
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND THE CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTIONS.
 
4. SINCE SEAS ARE HIGH, AND THERE ARE SWELLS. AND THE
CURRENT IS STRONG WITH CHANGING DIRECTION. YOU ARE ADVISED
TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN WATER
SPORTS.
 
5. PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD FIND A SAFE PLACE NOW AND REMAIN
THERE UNTIL THE DANGER IS OVER.
 
6. 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.
 
7. TROPICAL CYCLONE BROUGHT DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DAMAGES TO
HONG KONG. THERE MAY BE HIDDEN DANGER. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT FOR ASSURANCE OF PERSONAL
SAFETY.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 08:46 HKT ON 20.07.2025