Typhoon Mujigae forecast closest to Hong Kong after midnight as city lashed by squally showers, strong winds

Hong Kong was hit with heavy squally showers on Saturday evening, with winds sometimes approximating gale force offshore and on high ground.

The Observatory raised the No. 3 strong wind signal due to Typhoon Mujigae earlier in the afternoon and lashing rain was expected to continue to affect the city into the night. The typhoon was due to pass closest to Hong Kong in the hours after midnight, it said.

However, the chance of a gale or storm signal No. 8 being raised is not high, said Olivia Lee Shuk-ming, a senior scientific officer with the Observatory. This was not likely to become a factor unless Mujigae shifted to a more northerly track or became significantly stronger, the institute said.

As of 2pm, Mujigae was still rated as a Severe Tropical Storm and was about 390 km south of Hong Kong, she said.

It was forecast to intensify gradually before moving west north-west at about 22km/h towards western Guangdong.