Observatory says Super Typhoon Yutu is not likely to strike Hong Kong directly
- There is still a possibility the storm could change course, however, Observatory cautions
- The super typhoon moved on to the Philippines on Friday, having caused more than 130 injuries in Guam, with winds of up to 290km/h at its centre
Hong Kong is likely to be spared a direct hit by Super Typhoon Yutu, as the Observatory forecasts it will be over 800km away next Wednesday.
Yutu was moving away from Guam on Friday at noon and heading in the general direction of Luzon, in the north of the Philippines at a speed of 22km/h.
With winds blowing at 220km/h near its centre, Yutu was classified a super typhoon – on a par with Typhoon Mangkhut, which left nearly 400 people injured in Hong Kong last month.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, however, Yutu may be weakened to a severe typhoon on Tuesday, before it passes through the Philippines on Wednesday.
The observatory’s forecast track put Yutu over 850km away from Hong Kong on Wednesday, but it said there were uncertainties about the typhoon’s path.
[Super Typhoon Yutu] may enter the northern part of the South China Sea, but it may still turn towards the north-east
“It may enter the northern part of the South China Sea, but it may still turn towards the north-east,” the observatory said.
Only when the centre of a typhoon falls within 800km of the city will the observatory issue the No. 1 standby warning signal.