Observatory forecasters expect at least four and up to seven tropical cyclones coming within 500 kilometers of Hong Kong this year, but the territory escaped with one linked fatality after the first storm of this summer went by 280 km to the west yesterday.

The strong wind signal No 3 for tropical depression Nuri was replaced by the No 1 at 10.40 am after being hoisted for about 19 hours due to tropical depression Nuri. And the No 1 came down at 1.20 pm.

A drowning case was reported at Lower Cheung Sha Beach on Lantau around noon. That was after beachgoers spotted a woman who appeared to be drowning.

The woman, in her 20s, was unconscious when rescued by fire services officers. She was declared dead at North Lantau Hospital at 12.57pm. Police are investigating.

As swells continued yesterday the Observatory advised people to stay away from shorelines.

Showers will continue today and tomorrow, but senior scientific officer Lee Tsz-cheung said people can expect sunny weather from Thursday. Development secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, noted yesterday that Hong Kong has been suffering from unstable weather this month with the landslip warning in force for many hours around June 6.

Authorities received 27 reports of landslips that day.

And landslip investigators have been following up on reports on landslides for two weeks.

"Heavy rainstorms triggered most landslips, though causes varied," said geotechnical engineer Roland Wai Cheuk-ting.

"The most common cause was that a slope was sharply inclined and the geological structure weak," he said, but some "was also found to be related to wild boar activity."

The thermographic system alerts bus drivers to feverish passengers with a triangular sign.

One drowning as first storm goes by