Observatory to issue T3 signal on Friday morning as Mitag nears

The Observatory will issue the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 between 9am and 11am on Friday morning (Sep 19) as Tropical Storm Mitag is expected to intensify gradually and edge closer to the coast of eastern Guangdong. The classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability will be suspended tomorrow.

At 9pm, Mitag was estimated to be about 370 kilometers east-southeast of Hong Kong and is forecast to move northwest at about 18 kilometers per hour in the general direction of the coast of eastern Guangdong.

Under the combined effect of the northeast monsoon over southern China and Mitag, occasional strong winds will start to affect offshore waters and high ground in Hong Kong starting Thursday night. 

According to the present forecast track, Mitag will make landfall over the coast of eastern Guangdong later on Friday to early Saturday (Sep 20). 

Meanwhile, it will gradually turn to a westerly track edging closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary under the influence of the northeast monsoon. 

Depending on the change in Mitag's intensity, the distance of its gale winds from Hong Kong and the change in local wind condition, the Observatory will then assess the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals.

(Updated at 9.29pm)