The Hong Kong Observatory issued the strong wind signal No 3 at 9:20 am on Friday after Mitag intensified into a severe tropical storm moving closer to the city.
At 9 am, Mitag was estimated to be about 160 kilometers east of Hong Kong. It was forecast to move northwest at about 15 kilometers per hour towards the coast of eastern Guangdong.
Local winds are expected to strengthen generally as Mitag moved steadily across the northern part of the South China Sea, edging close to the coast of eastern Guangdong in the past few hours, the observatory said in a bulletin.
The signal No 3, which indicated that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 km per hour were expected, will remain in force for most of the time during the day, the HKO said.
Mitag was forecast to skirt about 100 km to the north of Hong Kong as it will turn to a westerly track edging closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary under the influence of the northeast monsoon, according to the HKO.
It will make landfall over the coast of eastern Guangdong around Friday evening according to the HKO’s forecast track.
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“Depending on the change in Mitag's intensity by that time, the distance of its gale winds from Hong Kong and the change in local wind conditions, the observatory will assess the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals,” the city’s weather forecaster added.
Under the influence of Mitag’s outer rainbands, there will be more showers gradually with squalls in Hong Kong on Friday, the observatory said, adding that showers will be heavy at times on Saturday.
The Education Board has announced that classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability were suspended on the day.
With Mitag departing, winds will weaken on Sunday but still showery and it will be very hot early next week.
Tropical cyclone Ragasa
Meanwhile, the HKO warned that the weather will deteriorate significantly midweek next week, as another tropical cyclone, Ragasa, over the western North Pacific to the east of the Philippines was expected to enter the northern part of the South China Sea early next week, edging closer to the coast of southern China.
“According to the present forecast, tropical cyclone Ragasa will intensify significantly and move towards the vicinity of Luzon Strait in the next few days, and it may reach super typhoon intensity,” the observatory said on Friday.
Under the influence of its broad circulation, winds will strengthen again midweek next week, with heavy squally showers, thunderstorms and storm surge, the city’s weather forecaster added.
