PRESS WEATHER NO. 048 - TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN (SIGNAL NO. 3)

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TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN (SIGNAL NO. 3)

 

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN
 
HERE IS THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING BULLETIN ISSUED
BY THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.
 
THE STRONG WIND SIGNAL, NO. 3 IS IN FORCE.
 
THIS MEANS THAT WINDS WITH MEAN SPEEDS OF 41 TO 62
KILOMETRES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED.
 
AT 5 A.M., SUPER TYPHOON RAGASA WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT
560 KILOMETRES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 19.8
DEGREES NORTH 118.8 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE
WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 22 KILOMETRES PER HOUR ACROSS THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

 

IN THE PAST FEW HOURS, LOCAL WINDS ARE OCCASIONALLY STRONG
OFFSHORE AND ON HIGH GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT
FORECAST, RAGASA WILL MAINTAIN SUPER TYPHOON INTENSITY AND
EDGE TOWARDS THE COAST OF GUANGDONG, AND WILL BE CLOSEST TO
THE VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY TOMORROW (24
SEPTEMBER) MORNING.
  
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE EXTENSIVE CIRCULATION OF RAGASA,
LOCAL WEATHER WILL START TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY LATER
TODAY. THE OBSERVATORY WILL ISSUE THE GALE OR STORM SIGNAL,
NO. 8 AT 2:20 P.M. TODAY. THE “PRE-NO.8 SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT” WILL BE ISSUED ABOUT 2 HOURS BEFORE THE
SIGNAL NO. 8 TO BE IN FORCE. 
  
DEPENDING ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN RAGASA AND HONG KONG AS
WELL AS THE CHANGE IN LOCAL WIND CONDITIONS, THE
OBSERVATORY WILL ASSESS THE NEED OF ISSUING HIGHER TROPICAL
CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS IN THE LATTER PART OF TONIGHT TO AT
FIRST TOMORROW. 
  
THE WEATHER WILL BE PERSISTENTLY ADVERSE TOMORROW. GALE TO
STORM FORCE WINDS WILL PREVAIL LOCALLY, AND WINDS MAY REACH
HURRICANE FORCE OFFSHORE AND ON HIGH GROUND. THERE WILL BE
FREQUENT HEAVY SQUALLY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SEAS WILL
BE VERY HIGH WITH SWELLS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED
TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND NOT ENGAGE IN WATER
SPORTS. 
  
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE, THERE WILL
BE A RISE IN WATER LEVEL OF ABOUT 2 METRES OVER COASTAL
AREAS OF HONG KONG TOMORROW MORNING. THE MAXIMUM WATER
LEVEL CAN GENERALLY REACH AROUND 3.5 TO 4 METRES ABOVE
CHART DATUM, AND THE WATER LEVEL AT TOLO HARBOUR MAY EVEN
REACH 4 TO 5 METRES ABOVE CHART DATUM. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.

 

IN THE PAST HOUR, THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS RECORDED AT
TATE'S CAIRN AND WAGLAN ISLAND WERE 52 AND 46 KILOMETRES
PER HOUR WITH MAXIMUM GUSTS EXCEEDING 63 AND 51 KILOMETRES
PER HOUR RESPECTIVELY.

 

(PRECAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH NO. 3 SIGNAL)
 
1. PLEASE COMPLETE PRECAUTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAKE
SURE OBJECTS LIKELY TO BE BLOWN AWAY ARE SECURELY FASTENED
OR TAKEN INDOORS. CHECK IF ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS CAN BE
SECURELY LOCKED.
 
2. DRAINS SHOULD NOW BE CLEARED OF LEAVES AND RUBBISH.
PEOPLE IN LOW-LYING AREAS SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST
FLOODING.
 
3. OWING TO STORM SURGE, LOW-LYING AREAS MAY HAVE SERIOUS
FLOODING OR BACKFLOW OF SEAWATER. PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS,
AND STAY AWAY FROM DANGEROUS PLACES.
 
4. FOR SAFETY REASONS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALL OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES BE CANCELLED. PLEASE PROVIDE APPROPRIATE
ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND
PEOPLE HAVING DIFFICULTY WALKING.
 
5. AVOID STAYING IN AREAS EXPOSED TO HIGH WINDS. DRIVERS
USING HIGHWAYS AND FLYOVERS SHOULD BE ALERT TO VIOLENT
GUSTS.
 
6. SMALL VESSELS NOT YET IN TYPHOON SHELTERS SHOULD SEEK
SHELTER WITHOUT DELAY. USE HEAVY ANCHORS AND CHECK THAT ALL
DECK FITTINGS ARE FIRMLY FASTENED.
 
7. LISTEN TO RADIO, WATCH TV OR BROWSE THE HONG KONG
OBSERVATORY'S WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION ON THE TROPICAL CYCLONE.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 04:45 HKT ON 23.09.2025