Typhoon season may start in June

Ayra Wang

Typhoon season could come as early as June and last until October or later, with Hong Kong expected to keep an eye on five to eight tropical cyclones, according to the observatory's director Chan Pak-wai.

Speaking at the forecaster's annual briefing yesterday, Chan also addressed concerns about a potential major earthquake in Japan this summer.

He said earthquakes are unpredictable and "we can only stay vigilant and monitor updates from Japan's meteorological agencies."

Temperatures were above-average for 11 months in 2024, the warmest year since records began, with April and October hitting record highs, he said.

Annual rainfall is expected to be near normal this year, ranging from 2,100 to 2,700 millimeters, but Chan warned of heavy rain and flooding and urged residents to prepare.

The observatory is also upgrading its services, including putting up radar updates more often and using new satellite imagery.