Anger as Hong Kong Observatory refuses to issue red warning amid downpour
Forecasters slammed for sticking to guideline and not adapting to real-time situation, causing commuters and schoolchildren to brave heavy rain
Weather enthusiasts are calling for a review of the Hong Kong Observatory’s threshold for rainstorm signals, following a war of words between the public and authorities on whether a higher alert should have been issued during Wednesday morning’s downpour.
Parents had to brave battering rain and strong winds to escort their children to schools, which continued to operate with an amber rainstorm signal in place.
Government forecasters defended their decision not to issue a more severe red rainstorm warning, saying the average rainfall did not meet the threshold for such a move. Such a signal would have triggered a suspension of classes across the city.
According to the Observatory’s website, a rainstorm signal is issued when a certain amount of rain falls or is expected to fall “generally over Hong Kong”.
For an amber warning to be issued, 30mm of rain must be recorded, while the thresholds for red and black alerts are 50mm and 70mm respectively.
Observatory senior scientific officer Lee Shuk-ming told a press conference that 40mm of rain was recorded between 6.45am and 7.45am on Wednesday morning, which did not warrant a red signal.
She added the public’s safety was their first and foremost concern.