Hong Kong issues T1 signal as Super Typhoon Doksuri nears city, warning to remain in force into Thursday morning
- Hottest day of the year so far as mercury hits 35.5 degrees Celsius, with hot weather to persist on Thursday
- Air quality deteriorating rapidly as Environmental Protection Department records higher than normal pollution levels
A Hong Kong Observatory No 1 warning will remain in force on Thursday morning as Super Typhoon Doksuri edged closer to the city and air quality rapidly deteriorated to alarming levels.
All high-speed train trips between West Kowloon station and Chaoshan and Xiamen areas from Wednesday to Friday have been cancelled because of the storm.
“According to the present forecast track, Doksuri will maintain a distance of more than 500km from Hong Kong,” the Observatory said.
“The Observatory will consider the distance between Doksuri and the Pearl River Estuary to assess the latest tropical cyclone warning signal,” it said on Wednesday night, hours after the No 1 standby was issued at 8.40pm.
A downdraft associated with the typhoon had brought photochemical smog to the Pearl River Delta, causing the rapid formation of ozone and nitrogen dioxide in the city, according to the weather forecaster.