T3 unlikely as Fung-wong weakens east of Hong Kong

The No. 1 Standby Signal remains in force on Tuesday, with the Hong Kong Observatory saying the likelihood of issuing the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal is relatively low as Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong continues to weaken over the northeastern South China Sea.

At 1pm, Fung-wong was located about 510 kilometers east-southeast of Hong Kong, moving north at around 10 kilometers per hour. The system has shown slight weakening in recent hours, reducing the chances of persistent strong winds across the territory.

The Observatory expects the Standby Signal, No. 1 to remain in effect during the day. It said the outer rainbands of Fung-wong are gradually edging closer to the Pearl River Estuary, bringing one or two light rain patches to parts of the city.

According to current forecasts, Fung-wong will pass more than 400 kilometers east of Hong Kong overnight. As the storm tracks away, the northeast monsoon is expected to gradually dominate local weather conditions.

When Fung-wong no longer poses a threat, the Observatory will either replace the No. 1 signal with the Strong Monsoon Signal or cancel all tropical cyclone warnings.

Residents are reminded that swells will continue to affect coastal areas. The Observatory advised the public to stay away from the shoreline and to avoid water sports for safety reasons.