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Ng Kang-chung

Wynna Wong

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Classes at kindergartens and some special schools in Hong Kong will be suspended on Tuesday, with the No 3 typhoon signal remaining in force until at least 6pm.
The Hong Kong Observatory said on Monday that while Severe Tropical Storm Fengshen, a Chinese name meaning “the god of wind”, was edging closer to the Guangdong coast, the need for a higher typhoon warning was unlikely.
It was forecast to move west or west-northwest across the northern part of the South China Sea, edging closer to the coast of Guangdong gradually, the Observatory said.
The No 3 signal means strong winds with sustained speeds of 41km/h to 62km/h, with gusts exceeding 110km/h, can be expected.
“In the past few hours, Fengshen strengthened and continued to edge closer to the coast of Guangdong,” the forecaster said.
“Its outer rainbands affected the region gradually. Under the combined effect of Fengshen and the northeast monsoon, winds will be generally strong over the territory [on Monday night] and [Tuesday], occasionally reaching gale force offshore and on high ground.”
According to the present forecast, Fengshen will be closest to Hong Kong from Monday night to Tuesday morning, skirting around 400km or more to the south of the city.
Under the influence of the monsoon, Fengshen will start to turn southwestwards and weaken on Tuesday, according to the Observatory.
Unless Fengshen adopted a track closer to the Pearl River Delta or intensified significantly, the chance of issuing higher warning signals was relatively low, and the No 3 warning would remain in force at least until 6pm, the Observatory said.
“With Fengshen departing from the coast of Guangdong and gradually dissipating, the weather will be brighter over the region in the latter part of this week,” it added.
The forecaster said rain would be frequent at times and weather would turn cooler on Tuesday. Temperatures were forecast to fall to around 19 degrees (66 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday night in urban areas, and a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories.
Seas will be rough with swells. Members of the public are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not engage in water sports.

The Observatory also warned that flooding might occur over some low-lying coastal areas during the high tides for a few consecutive nights this week under the effect of spring tide, combined with the northeast monsoon and Fengshen.
Earlier on Monday, acting senior scientific officer Shum Chi-tai of the Observatory told a radio show that the unusual decision to skip the lower No 1 signal for Fengshen was a direct response to the strong onshore winds already affecting the city.
“We have been under the influence of the strong monsoon signal since [Sunday] night, and the combined effect of the monsoon and Tropical Cyclone Fengshen means that the wind is already quite strong and will persist at that level,” he said.
“As the general wind conditions are already reaching the strong wind level associated with the No 3 signal, the Observatory will move directly to the higher warning, bypassing the No 1 signal.”
While skipping the No 1 signal to directly issue the No 3 was uncommon, Shum said it had happened before, most recently in 2021 with Tropical Cyclone Kompasu.
According to the Observatory, the weather will remain persistently windy with rain over the next couple of days.
The mercury will rise again with brighter skies by Friday as Fengshen moves away from the city, with temperatures expected to range between 22 degrees and 28 degrees. The maximum temperature is expected to hit 30 degrees again on Saturday.


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Hong Kong Observatory also says the need for a higher typhoon warning is unlikely


Hong Kong Observatory also says the need for a higher typhoon warning is unlikely.


China

Fengshen: Hong Kong T3 signal in force until 6pm on Tuesday as some classes suspended

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong Observatory also says the need for a higher typhoon warning is unlikely

Hong Kong Observatory also says the need for a higher typhoon warning is unlikely