PRESS WEATHER NO. 123 - 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 NOON, SUPER TYPHOON RAGASA WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 420
KILOMETRES SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG (NEAR 20.2 DEGREES NORTH
117.5 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE WEST-NORTHWEST
AT ABOUT 22 KILOMETRES PER HOUR ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF
THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, GRADUALLY EDGING CLOSER TO THE COAST
OF GUANGDONG.

 

SUPER TYPHOON RAGASA CONTINUED TO STEADILY EDGE CLOSER TO
THE COAST OF GUANGDONG THIS MORNING. ITS OUTER RAINBANDS
HAVE STARTED TO AFFECT EASTERN GUANGDONG. RAGASA HAS AN
EXTENSIVE CIRCULATION WITH FIERCE WINDS, POSING A SEVERE
THREAT TO THE COAST OF GUANGDONG. ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT
FORECAST, RAGASA WILL MAINTAIN SUPER TYPHOON INTENSITY AND
WILL BE CLOSEST TO THE VICINITY OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY
TOMORROW (24 SEPTEMBER) MORNING. LOCALLY, THE WEATHER IS
EXPECTED 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 AND
AT FIRST OF TOMORROW. 
 
THE WEATHER WILL BE PERSISTENTLY ADVERSE TOMORROW. GALE TO
STORM FORCE WINDS WILL PREVAIL LOCALLY, AND WINDS WILL
REACH HURRICANE FORCE OFFSHORE AND ON HIGH GROUND AT FIRST.
THERE WILL BE FREQUENT HEAVY SQUALLY SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. SEAS WILL BE PHENOMENAL WITH SWELLS. THE
OBSERVATORY APPEALS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO STAY
AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE, AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS. 
 
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE, THE RISE IN
WATER LEVEL CAN REACH AROUND 2 METRES OVER THE COAST OF
HONG KONG TOMORROW. THE WATER LEVEL WILL START TO RISE
AFTER AROUND 6 A.M. IN THE MORNING. IT WILL REACH THE
MAXIMUM LATER IN THE MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON, GENERALLY
AROUND 3.5 TO 4 METRES ABOVE CHART DATUM. THE WATER LEVEL
AT TOLO HARBOUR MAY EVEN REACH 4 TO 5 METRES ABOVE CHART
DATUM. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS.

 

(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. CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS
SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT OVERHANGING FACILITIES AND TEMPORARY
STRUCTURES OUTDOORS ARE SECURELY FASTENED OR PLACED ON THE
GROUND, AND COMPLETE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
 
7. SMALL VESSEL OWNERS SHOULD NOW COMPLETE ALL SAFETY
ARRANGEMENTS AND RETURN TO NEARBY TYPHOON SHELTERS.
 
8. 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 11:45 HKT ON 23.09.2025