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Hong Kong Observatory raised the T1 tropical cyclone signal this morning – but said there was little chance of the signal going any higher as a tropical depression headed toward the coast of southern China.
The signal – one of only a handful issued so far this year – was issued just before 10am.
“At 10am the tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea was estimated to be about 390 kilometres south-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move northwest at about 16 kilometres per hour in the general direction of western Guangdong and Hainan Island,” the Observatory said in a statement on its website.
“The tropical depression is edging closer to the south China coast. Its outer rainbands have also started to affect the coast of Guangdong. the chance of issuing the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 today is not high.”
Hong Kong has barely been affected by typhoons so far this year. In July Super Typhoon Neoguri, which was originally heading towards the territory, swung to the north and slammed into Japan.
Less than a fortnight later the T3 signal was raised as Typhoon Rammasun brought strong winds and rain to the territory, but the storm passed to the southwest of Hong Kong and battered China, leaving thousands homeless and scores dead.
Earlier this year year experts around the world forecast the formation of an El Nino weather system, due to a warming Pacific Ocean. El Nino can play havoc with the world’s weather patterns, causing droughts in some parts of the world and flooding in others.
One effect of an El Nino event is to push back Hong Kong’s typhoon season and bring more rain to the region.
Last week scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report the likelihood was increasing that the predicted El Nino would be weak this year.
Hong Kong Observatory said August this year was hotter than usual due to prolonged spells of fine, sunny weather. The monthly mean temperature was 29C – 0.4 degrees higher than usual for the month.
The Observatory’s report on the weather for the month said: “With two heavy rain episodes around mid-August, the month was also wetter than usual, with a monthly rainfall amount of 548.2 millimetres, about 27 percent above the August normal of 432.2 millimetres.
“The accumulated rainfall since 1 January was 2312.1 millimetres, about 21 percent above the normal of 1905.5 millimetres for the same period.”
The outlook for the Mid-Autumn Festival is mainly cloudy with a few showers.
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