Hong Kong cancels amber rainstorm warning after 2 hours

The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled an amber rainstorm warning more than two hours after it was issued on Thursday afternoon.

The weather forecaster earlier urged residents to seek shelter as soon as possible as intense gusts affected the city.

An amber rainstorm alert was issued at 1.45pm amid warnings that the heavy rain might bring about flash floods.

The signal is issued when heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30mm in an hour, and is likely to continue.

The warning was cancelled at 4pm.

“A broad trough of low pressure is bringing showers and thunderstorms to the coast of Guangdong and the northern part of the South China Sea,” the Observatory said.