T1 signal to remain in force during the day as Typhoon Podul approaches

The Observatory said the Standby Signal, No. 1 will remain in force during the day today as Severe Typhoon Podul is expected to maintain a distance of over 400 kilometers from Hong Kong for most of the time on Wednesday (Aug 13).

The T1 signal was issued at 8.40am.

The forecaster will assess the need to issue the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 between tonight and tomorrow morning (14 August), depending on the distance between Podul and the Pearl River Estuary, its intensity and the change in local winds.

At noon, Podul was estimated to be about 720 kilometers east of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west-northwest at about 28 kilometers per hour towards the southern part of Taiwan, and then edge closer to the vicinity of southern Fujian to eastern Guangdong.

The temperatures over the city can rise to 35 degrees or above under the influence of the outer subsiding air of Podul. Showers and squally thunderstorms triggered by high temperatures will also affect Guangdong and the vicinity of Pearl River Estuary later today.

Podul is expected to make landfall again over the vicinity of southern Fujian to eastern Guangdong overnight. 

Podul will be closest to Hong Kong tomorrow morning. Under the influence of its rainbands, there will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms over the territory on Thursday.