Goodbye blue skies: tropical cyclone Megi to bring week of showers to Hong Kong
Still too early to tell if storm will strengthen into typhoon, Observatory says
Hongkongers can expect a full week of showers next week as a tropical cyclone moves towards Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
The Observatory has forecast that tropical cyclone Megi – the Korean word for catfish – will intensify gradually over the next few days as it moves from the east of Guam northwest towards the Luzon Strait and Taiwan.
It is too early to say whether Megi will strengthen into a typhoon, the Observatory said, but it will certainly bring heavy squally showers to the coast of southeastern China midweek next week.
A continental airstream will gradually affect the coast of Guangdong in the next few days, bringing generally fine weather to Hong Kong over the weekend. But intervals of showers will start taking over the city starting from Monday next week and turn more intense on Wednesday, with heavy clouds and showers.
There will be fewer showers by next Friday, according to the Observatory’s online weather forecast.
Scientific officer Yeung Hon-yin said changes to the local weather forecast will depend on the development of the tropical cyclone.
In October 2010, a super typhoon also named Megi led Hong Kong to activate its emergency response system when it moved towards the city after hitting the Philippines, causing 36 deaths. It weakened when it came near Hong Kong, and a Strong Wind Signal No 3 was issued.
