- At 6pm, Ma-on, which means saddle in Cantonese, was estimated to be about 330km south-southeast of Hong Kong
- The No 8 signal is the third-highest warning under the city’s weather system, with sustained winds of up to 117km/hour expected
Glass doors at a supermarket in Whampoa have been taped in preparation for tropical storm Ma-on. Photo: Nora TamThe Hong Kong Observatory upgraded the typhoon warning signal to No 8 on Wednesday, as Severe Tropical Storm Ma-on made its way towards the coast of Guangdong.
At 6pm, Ma-on, which means saddle in Cantonese, was estimated to be about 330km south-southeast of Hong Kong and was forecast to move west-northwest at about 25km/h in the general direction of the coast of western Guangdong.
The No 8 signal is the third-highest warning under the city’s weather system, with sustained winds of up to 117km/hour expected.
The No 3 signal was issued at 12.40pm, with a 24-hour hotline activated by the Home Affairs Department at 2572 8427, for public inquiries on the storm.
Or Ming-keung, acting senior scientific officer of the Observatory, said in a press conference on Wednesday morning that Ma-on was on a steady track to the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta in the past few hours.
“The Observatory will consider issuing the No 8 gale or storm signal between 6pm and 9pm. There will be rough to high seas and swells tonight. Members of the public are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports,” Or said.
“Due to the storm surge and the current astronomical high tide, flooding in low-lying areas and seawater intrusion along the coast may happen on Thursday morning,” he warned, urging the public to take measures to protect themselves as soon as possible.
Cantonese slang for Hong Kong summers’ heavy rain and stifling heat
Hot weather persisted on Wednesday morning into lunchtime, with a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius recorded in Yuen Long Park, while Sheung Shui, Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po hit 34 degrees.
“Ma-on is expected to be closest to Hong Kong on Thursday morning and may skirt within about 200km of the territory, posing threats to Hong Kong to a certain extent,” Or said, adding the outer rain bands associated with the storm would bring squally showers and thunderstorms later on Wednesday and local winds would strengthen rapidly overnight.
The weather is expected to improve towards the end of the week despite a few showers on Friday.
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The government’s “StayHomeSafe” 183 3019 hotline will be maintained. The Home Affairs Department urged Covid-19 patients or their close contacts who were under home isolation or quarantine and who had urgent needs to call the number as soon as possible. Services will be suspended if the No 8 signal comes into force.
The No 1 alert was issued on Tuesday night, with the city waking up to a “very hot weather” warning on Wednesday.