T1 to be hoisted at 9.20pm, tropical cyclone makes Friday 'L-turn'

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) announced on Wednesday (Sep 17) that the Standby Signal, No. 1 will be hoisted at 9.20pm tonight as the tropical cyclone over Luzon has entered within 800 kilometers of Hong Kong. 

The tropical depression near the Philippines was located over central Luzon at 8am Wednesday, with strongest sustained winds near its center reaching seven on the Beaufort scale. 

The tropical depression is expected to move northwestwards at a speed of about 25 km/h, intensify gradually, and move towards the coast of Guangdong in the next couple of days, according to the National Meteorological Centre.

It is also forecast to intensify into a severe tropical storm and make an “L-turn” near Shantou on Friday evening, moving westward towards Hong Kong.

The HKO expects the cyclone to move northwestwards across the northeastern part of the South China Sea and intensify gradually, but uncertainties exist in its landfall position and intensity, bringing unsettled weather to Hong Kong on Friday and over the weekend. 

As its circulation remains relatively small, the tropical cyclone will only bring significant impact to local weather when it gets relatively close.

The HKO will assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals later on Thursday and Friday, depending on its intensity, strong winds distance from Hong Kong and change in local wind conditions. 

Under the influence of the outer rainbands associated with the tropical cyclone, Friday will see stronger showers and winds, with occasional squally showers and thunderstorms over the weekend.

The National Meteorological Centre predicts strong winds of up to level eight on the Beaufort scale in the Bashi Channel, the northern South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the coast of Taiwan and the coast of Fujian from 8am Wednesday to 8am Thursday, with gusts of up to level ten.

(Updated at 7.58pm)