Typhoons in Hong Kong

Typhoons in Hong Kong are notorious in combination with 98% humidity during summer months. June through early September. If you happen to be in Hong Kong during a typhoon you are quite out of luck as almost everything comes to a standstill. The Hong Kong Observatory has typhoon warnings according to how close and how strong they are, this usually begins with a typhoon number one signal which tends to escalate to three. When the number 8 signal is raised it mean HK will directly be affected. School, offices, stores and public transportation close immediately and everyone goes home. People are advised not to go outside, and like hurricanes in Miami after the excitement of watching the storm getting closer dies down you are left with nothing to do but stay inside and wait it out. I know friends who are in the Philippines now who suffered much worse then us, a few days earlier due to the same typhoon. The following is the message sent to those in my program during our first (and hopefully last) HK typhoon.

Typhoon Fengshen

The No. 8 Southwest Gale or Storm Signal is in force.

This means that winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometres per hour or more are expected from the southwest quarter.

At 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Fengshen was centred about 90 kilometres north of Hong Kong Observatory (near 23.1 degrees north 114.0 degrees east) and is forecast to move north or north-northwest at about 14 kilometres per hour moving further into Guangdong.

Fengshen is gradually weakening after making landfall. The Observatory will issue the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 soon.

Conditions over the Western part of the Territory are still rather windy and rainy. The public should remain on the alert.

In the past hour, the maximum sustained winds recorded at Chek Lap Kok and Cheung Chau were 59 and 57 kilometres per hour with maximum gusts 69 and 77 kilometres per hour respectively.

(Precautionary Announcements with No. 8 Signal)

1. Since seas are rough, you are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

2. Flights at Hong Kong International Airport may be affected by the weather. Please contact your airline for the latest flight information before departing for the airport.

3. Please listen to your radio or watch your TV for the latest weather information broadcast at the 15th, 30th, 45th and 58th minute of each hour. You can also browse the Hong Kong Observatory's web site for the information. http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm

Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal Special Announcement issued at 10:10 a.m.

The Rainstorm Warning Signal is now Amber. This means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimetres in an hour, and is likely to continue.

There will be flooding in some low-lying and poorly drained areas. People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risk posed by the heavy rain and flooding.

Please continue to exercise due care. People who have to travel should carefully consider weather and road conditions and take necessary precautions.

Please listen to radio or watch television for traffic conditions and further announcements on the rainstorm.

Here is regulations issued by the Hong Kong Government regarding working issues related to the weather. For more detailed information, please refer to the attachment.

The warning/signal is in force before normal working hours

◆ All employees other than essential staff are not required to report for duty.

◆ Essential staff are required to report for duty.

◆ Essential staff should inform their supervisors as soon as practicable if they have difficulties in reporting for duty.