Hong Kong typhoon warning: No 3 signal issued as Tropical Cyclone Nuri nears the city
- Observatory raises warning level with strong winds to hit speeds of 41-62km/h, with gusts potentially exceeding 110km/h
- Tropical cyclone is due within 200km of Hong Kong on Sunday
Hong Kong issued typhoon signal No 3 on Saturday as the city prepares for disruption from Tropical Cyclone Nuri.
The Observatory raised the signal at 3.40pm with winds expected to reach speeds of 41-62km/h. It warned gusts could exceed 110km/h.
It said the tropical cyclone was located 290km to the southeast of Hong Kong and was drifting at about 22km/h towards the northeast and the western coastal area of Guangdong province, as of mid-afternoon.
The storm will come closest to Hong Kong on Sunday, skirting within about 200km of the city’s southwest boundary.
Observatory experts described the typhoon’s structure as loose, adding the area of gale-force winds was relatively small.
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The chance of increasing the typhoon signal was low unless the storm intensified significantly or its course shifted closer to the city, said the Observatory, which has warned that all water sports must cease.
Even though it was the weekend, the government said kindergarten classes and schools for children with physical and intellectual disabilities are suspended for the rest of the day.
But those schools are required to remain open and implement contingency measures to look after any pupils.
Meanwhile, police said a vessel – a 20-metre catamaran – sank during strong winds near Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung at around 11am on Saturday.
Thirteen people were pulled from the water onto nearby fishing boats, but did not require hospital treatment.
Despite the warning, dozens of wind surfers poured in Big Wave Bay for surfing, with some surfers in bikini risking their lives for fun in the rough seas.
Along the waterfront of North Point and Wan Chai, more people were seen fishing in the rain.
The No 3 signal warns of strong winds, specifying speeds of 41-62km/h and gusts in excess of 110km/h, that are expected in the 12 hours from the time it was issued.
People are advised to secure loose objects, beware of flooding in low-lying areas and to stay away from dangerous places.
Typhoon Mangkhut became the strongest storm since Hong Kong records began in 1946 when it hit the city in September 2018 with wind speeds of up to 175km/h.
