Signal No 3 to be issued if Tropical Storm Barijat edges closer to Hong Kong as Super Typhoon Mangkhut looms in distance
The super typhoon has a 50 per cent chance of passing over Hong Kong in the next nine days
The Hong Kong Observatory will consider issuing typhoon signal No 3 on Wednesday if Tropical Storm Barijat edges closer to the city and brings strong winds but it also warned Hongkongers to brace themselves for Super Typhoon Mangkhut over the weekend.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mangkhut was about 2,800km away from Hong Kong in the Pacific Ocean but was forecast to move towards the South China Sea in the coming days. It has a 50 per cent chance of passing over Hong Kong in the next nine days.
At midnight, Tropical Storm Barijat was about 340km east-southeast of the city and estimated to move west at about 14km/h. Earlier in the day at 10.40am, the weather agency issued the No 1 signal as Barijat headed towards the western coast of Guangdong province.
“Barijat is expected to edge slightly closer to the Pearl River Estuary [on Wednesday] and its associated squally showers will affect Hong Kong gradually,” the Observatory said.
It advised residents to check on the latest weather information before leaving home on Wednesday morning.