Close to 5,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes recorded as heavy rains batter Hong Kong
Noon showers bring more than 50mm of rainfall to certain parts of city
In three hours of thunderstorms on Tuesday, lightning flashed close to 5,000 times in the city, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
This included Hong Kong’s 18th highest occurrence of cloud-to-ground lightning detected in a hour since records began in 2005, as heavy rain pelted down after a week of sweltering temperatures.
According to Li Yuet-sim, acting senior scientific officer of the Observatory, cloud-to-ground lightning was recorded 4,884 times between 11am and 1.59pm.
A total of 3,242 instances of cloud-to-ground lightning were detected between noon and 12.59pm, which is the 18th highest in an hour since records began, Li said.
She added that the highest was about 13,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in an hour, recorded on September 9, 2010.
An amber rainstorm warning signal was issued between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, while a thunderstorm warning was in force 11.00am to 3.30pm. Another thunderstorm warning was issued from 7.30pm to 8.15pm.