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Danny Lee

The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded its typhoon warning from No 8 to No 3 at Tuesday lunchtime, marking the return to calmer conditions after Typhoon Nida brushed the city overnight.
Nida weakened further to a tropical storm, moving in a west-northwestly direction across Guangdong province.
The first T8 typhoon this year, which brought the city to a halt, dumped 100mm of rain across the city and even 200mm across Lantau Island. In Ngong Ping, on Lantau, sustained wind speeds were recorded at 94km/h, along with maximum speeds of 122 km/h by 10am.
Despite the lessened wind and rain danger, trading at the Hong Kong stock exchange was suspended all day.

What you need to know:
● Nida has weakened into a severe tropical storm and is moving gradually to the inland areas of Guangdong, further away from Hong Kong.
● The Gale or Storm Signal No 8 was downgraded to No 3 at 12.40pm.
● Classes at all schools are suspended all day.
● Rail and MTR bus services have been adjusted, with most lines running at 10–15 minute intervals.
● Ferries to and between outlying islands are suspended.
● Trams on Hong Kong Island are suspended.
● Kowloon Motor Bus company, Firstbus and Citybus have all suspended daytime services.
● An extremely limited number of flights are arriving at Hong Kong Airport.
● Taxi services are sporadic, with drivers dictating cash tips for service.

In the eye of the storm: typhoons in Hong Kong


A southwesterly No 8 storm signal, issued since 8.40pm on Monday, remained in force, leading to authorities enforcing a range of precautions:
• All primary, secondary and special needs schools would be closed on Tuesday, the Education Bureau announced.

• Trading at the Hong Kong stock and futures market was suspended all day, affecting the securities market, including Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect trading, and the derivatives market.
• All hearings at the city’s courts and tribunals were adjourned all day.

The Airport Authority said about 325 flights to and from Hong Kong between 6am and 9pm were expected to be rescheduled on Tuesday, on top of the 156cancelled ahead of the typhoon’s arrival on Monday. Singapore Airlines flight 1 from San Francisco to Hong Kong was expected to be the first aircraft to land, but the pilot aborted one landing attempt due to tricky wind conditions at the airport and diverted to Taipei.
Five things to do (and avoid) in Hong Kong when the No 8 typhoon signal is raised
Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights in and out of the city until 2pm on Tuesday, and said several flights after that would also be affected.
As of 9am on Tuesday, the authorities were aware of 114 trees knocked down acrossthe city, including in Tuen Mun, Sai Kung and Kowloon Tong.

And 218 Hongkongers sought refuge from the wind and rain at government-run shelters.
No injuries, flooding, landslides or power cuts had been reported. But people were urged to report any floods to the Drainage Services Department on 2300 1110.
While high winds persisted, the threat turned to flooding in low-lying areas. Sea levels in parts of the coast were 0.5 metres above normal.




The combination of southwesterly gales pushing water up from the South China Sea into coastal areas of Hong Kong and high tide shortly after 8.30am on Tuesday raised flood warnings. And heavy rain prompted the Hong Kong Observatory to issue an amber rainstorm warning at 5.20am after more than 60mm fell in many parts of the city, but that was cancelled at 10.45am.

Sandy Song Man-kuen, senior scientific officer at the Observatory, said: “I think all regions may have a risk of flooding due to the heavy rain, not just the high tide and storm surge.”
“If an area is prone to high tide, is a low-lying area, it could be at risk, which is why we remind the public in these areas to take precautions,” she added.
Hong Kong-based storm chaser James Reynolds described Nida as the “biggest threat” to the city since Typhoon Vicente in 2012, which triggered the first No 10 storm signal since 1999.

Nida was expected to move west-northwest towards the Pearl River Estuary at25km/h.
Reynolds, who was observing the storm from the harbourfront in Kennedy Town, said the storm had been tamed somewhat.
“I think the storm lost a lot of energy as it scraped the coast to the east of Hong Kong,” he observed. “The storm was looking pretty strong, and if it passed 50km further south would have hit Hong Kong very hard.”

Young Kennedy Town resident Daniel Lock went with his family to watch the typhoon on Tuesday morning. Daniel’s father, Lock Wai-keung, said he felt “a little bit disappointed” as Nida was not as severe as previous typhoons.
“We wanted to catch the wave as it said that it’s going to hit signal No 10,” he said. “But it has not and we are kind of disappointed.”
Additional reporting by Enoch Yiu and Jane Li


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Dark skies over Victoria Harbour

People have fun in Tsim Sha Tsui during typhoon signal number 8. 02AUG16 SCMP/Edward Wong

Typhoon Signal No. 8 was issued as Typhoon Nida approaches Hong Kong. 01AUG16 SCMP / David Wong

Preparation work is seen in Causeway Bay as Typhoon Nida approaches Hong Kong. 01AUG16 SCMP / Bruce Yan

Typhoon Signal No. 8 was issued as Typhoon Nida approaches Hong Kong. 01AUG16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Fallen trees is seen on Tai Hong Street in Sai Wan Ho under typhoon Nida. S02AUG16 SCMP/ Josephine Ma

Lock Wai-keung with his son Daniel at typhoon watch at the waterfront in Kennedy Town. 02AUG16 SMCP/ Edward Wong

Flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong has to abort landing and divert to Taipei because of turbulence during Typhoon Nida

The Singapore Airlines flight had to divert because of the high winds. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Typhoon Nida hits mainland China bringing traffic chaos across Pearl River Delta

Typhoon Nida lashes the Dapeng peninsula in Shenzhen. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Fallen trees lie on the ground in the aftermath of Typhoon Nida in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province on August 2, 2016. Typhoon Nida made landfall in southern China on August 2 as hundreds of flights were cancelled as the storm brought violent winds and torrential rain. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

新华社照片，深圳，2016年8月2日
    强台风“妮妲”在深圳登陆
    8月2日，车辆在深圳滨海大道涉水前行。
    强台风“妮妲”于8月2日3时35分在深圳市大鹏半岛登陆，登陆时中心附近最大风力14级。受其影响，深圳中、西部地区出现10级阵风。截至2日6时，深圳全市平均降雨43毫米，主要以间歇性降雨为主。
    记者从深圳市三防办了解到，截至2日6时，深圳总体防台风形势较为平稳，尚未收到重大灾情报告和因灾人员伤亡报告。
    新华社记者毛思倩摄

(160802) -- SHENZHEN, Aug 2, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A pedestrian walks amid heavy rain on a road in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 2, 2016. Typhoon Nida landed at 3:35 a.m. Tuesday at the Dapeng Peninsula in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, local weather authorities said. The strong typhoon packing winds up to 151.2 km per hour is moving northwest at 25 km per hour, and is expected to sweep across the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing to Guangdong's neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) (lfj)

新华社照片，深圳，2016年8月2日
    强台风“妮妲”在深圳登陆
    8月2日，在深圳市罗湖区宝安南路，行人在风雨中等候过马路。
    强台风“妮妲”于8月2日3时35分在深圳市大鹏半岛登陆，登陆时中心附近最大风力14级。受其影响，深圳中、西部地区出现10级阵风。截至2日6时，深圳全市平均降雨43毫米，主要以间歇性降雨为主。
    记者从深圳市三防办了解到，截至2日6时，深圳总体防台风形势较为平稳，尚未收到重大灾情报告和因灾人员伤亡报告。
    新华社记者毛思倩摄

新华社照片，深圳，2016年8月2日
    强台风“妮妲”在深圳登陆
    8月2日，深圳市水务局的工作人员在深圳滨海大道积水路面疏通下水井。
    强台风“妮妲”于8月2日3时35分在深圳市大鹏半岛登陆，登陆时中心附近最大风力14级。受其影响，深圳中、西部地区出现10级阵风。截至2日6时，深圳全市平均降雨43毫米，主要以间歇性降雨为主。
    记者从深圳市三防办了解到，截至2日6时，深圳总体防台风形势较为平稳，尚未收到重大灾情报告和因灾人员伤亡报告。
    新华社记者毛思倩摄

Chinese workers rest at Nansha Stadium as Typhoon Nida hit the area in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province on August 2, 2016. Typhoon Nida made landfall in southern China on August 2 as hundreds of flights were cancelled as the storm brought violent winds and torrential rain. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

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This August 1, 2016 NASA satellite imag shows Typhoon Nida approaching China. Hong Kong hunkered down August 1 as Typhoon Nida swirled towards it, with more than 100 flights cancelled and schools closed, and Guangzhou in neighbouring mainland China issued its top storm alert. Hong Kong was expected to raise a "T8" storm signal -- the third-highest -- Monday evening as the storm edged closer to the city, packing winds of 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour. / AFP PHOTO / NASA / Handout / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Grey skies at Central as Typhoon Nida approaches. Photo: Felix Wong

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There are still diversions in Hong Kong even if the No 8 typhoon signal is raised. Photo: Sam Tsang

People catching the ferry to the outlying islands at the Central Pier; the typhoon signal number 8 has been hoisted as typhoon Linfa getting closer to Hong Kong. 09JUL15

The first day of 18th Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong from 29 July to 1 August at HKCEC. 29JUL16 SCMP/ Nora Tam

Local surfer Kenneth Howe rides battles the rough white wash after at the Big Wave Bay Beach on Hong Kong Island as Typhoon Vincente approaches the city Monday, July 23rd, 2012. 23JUL12

People play Pokemon Go, a mobile game, in Quarry Bay. 28JUL16 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

People crossing a road in Wan Chai under the rain as Tropical Storm Mujigae moves away from Hong Kong. 11SEP09

The recently relocated Tai Choy Lee mahjong shop on Kam Wing Street, San Po Kong. 16MAY16 SCMP/Nora Tam

People brave stormy weather near Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui under typhoon signal no. 8 as typhoon Nesat is affecting the territory. 29SEP11

Tapes are seen on the windows at IFC Mall in Central for coming Typhoon Nida. 01AUG16 SCMP/ Felix Wong

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