Batten down the hatches: typhoon signal expected in Hong Kong early as Sunday night
Observatory warns public to take precautions in view of hailstones and strong winds
Hong Kong is expected to issue the typhoon standby signal No 1 warning as early as Sunday night as a tropical storm, on a collision course with the city, intensifies in strength.
Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly by Tuesday and through Wednesday, with high winds, rough seas and torrential, squally showers.
Tropical Storm Nida was over the sea east of the Philippines on Saturday and is expected to move closer to the South China coast.
On Sunday morning, Nida continued to gather in strength with speeds of 85km/h. Overnight, the typhoon moved slightly west suggesting landfall would be on Hong Kong or west of the territory. By Monday morning, the storm is expected to be within 800km of Hong Kong.
Although weather experts have stressed the exact timing and positioning of the storm is still to be determined, predictions by the Observatory put it within 100km of striking the city directly.
Queenie Lam Ching-chi, a senior scientific officer at the Observatory, urged the public to prepare for the storm and be alert for deteriorating weather conditions.