HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Observatory raised the typhoon signal No 1 late on Thursday afternoon as a low pressure area in the northern part of the South China Sea strengthened into a tropical depression.

The observatory said in a weather bulletin that it issued at 5:40 pm the Standby Signal, No 1, which means a tropical cyclone is centered within about 800 kilometers of Hong Kong and may affect the territory. It added that it will consider raising the Strong Wind Signal, No 3 on Friday.

According to the present forecast, the tropical depression will remain at a distance of over 250 kilometers from Hong Kong tonight and tomorrow morning, the observatory said.

Depending on the change of the tropical depression’s intensity and local wind conditions, the observatory said it will assess the need for issuing the Strong Wind Signal, No 3 during the day tomorrow

Its associated strong winds would not generally affect the territory yet and the Standby Signal, No 1 will remain in force at least until 6 am tomorrow, it added.

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At 6 pm, the tropical depression was estimated to be about 640 kilometers south-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to be slow moving at first, then move north at about 10 kilometers per hour, edging towards the coast of western Guangdong to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary.

Depending on the change of the tropical depression’s intensity and local wind conditions, the observatory said it will assess the need for issuing the Strong Wind Signal, No 3 during the day tomorrow.

The observatory added that there will be more showers and a few thunderstorms tomorrow, with some heavy showers later.