Super typhoon threatens

Standby signal No 1 could be hoisted tomorrow with Super Typhoon Saola projected by the observatory to come within 800 kilometers of Hong Kong.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts expects Saola to then move over eastern Guangzhou and the coast of Fujian.

Tropical Cyclone Haikui, located to the east of Saola, "may further develop and interact with Saola," the observatory said.

"Depending on the size of circulation of Saola and its distance from the Pearl River Estuary the observatory will assess the need for issuing tropical cyclone warning signals in the middle to latter parts of this week."

Saola developed into a super typhoon on Sunday.

It was about 460km northeast of Manila yesterday and was forecast to move north-northeast slowly and remain east of Luzon.

That means Saola will bring hot weather to southern China later this week, with a large difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures.

While today's weather will be mainly cloudy with occasional showers and thunderstorms, temperatures will range from 27 to 31 degrees Celsius.

Then there will be sunny periods and isolated showers tomorrow with daytime temperatures ranging from 26 to 33C.

Temperatures will climb to 34 degrees on Thursday, then under the influence of Saola it will be windier closer to the weekend.

Philippines forecaster Pagasa said Saola will likely move away from the country on Thursday morning or afternoon and cross the Taiwan Strait before making landfall over southeastern China on Friday evening or early Saturday.

Taiwan weather experts were last night preparing to issue a sea warning for the storm and a land warning this afternoon.

Authorities on the island have already decided to suspend some boats operating from Pingtung from tomorrow afternoon, though the eye of the typhoon is expected to miss Taiwan.

charlotte.wu@singtaonewscorp.com