Weather pr0n

Yesterday, tropical storm/depression Higos made landfall to the west of a little island in the South China Sea.

After which, Hong Kong Observatory lowered the Number One Standby Signal.

Today? It's been wet and blustery and as the hours progressed even more wet and blustery.

Currently, we have a Strong Monsoon Signal (winds in excess of 40km/hr), an Amber Rainstorm Warning (heavy rain exceeding 30 millimetres/hr), and a Thunderstorm Warning (heavy downpours, lightning and violent gusts of wind).

Cool, eh?

Weather pr0n

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During the past 24 hours, Tropical Depression Higos became Tropical Storm Higos. That, and it headed northwest to Hainan Island. Higos is currently skirting the east side of the island.

After which Hong Kong Observatory has Higos making land and then heading due west east towards a little island in the South China Sea.

No worries . . . once Higos makes landfall it will quickly lose power.

Naturally, it being the weekend, the Observatory forecasts "cloudy to overcast with rain".

The Number One Standby Signal is still in force.

Weather pr0n

At 5pm, Tropical Depression Higos was about 680 km south of a little island in the South China Sea.

Several hours ago, Hong Kong Observatory raised the Number One Standby Signal.

According to the Observatory, Higos is moving at 20km/hr and is forecast to move northwest or west-northwest towards. . . here.

But that would be in three days' time (see map).

Stay tuned!

Weather pr0n

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Well, that's that, then.

Typhoon Hagupit, the tally so far: eight dead in the Philippines; locally, sixty injured, three seriously; flights cancelled or delayed; almost everything closed; fallen scaffolding, flooding in the usual places; 100,000 evacuated along the South China coast; Vietnam next.

A little known fact -- outside of the Philippines -- hagupit is Tagalog for "to lash".

Oh, post-Hagupit. Today, a run on Hong Kong's third largest bank, Bank of East Asia: bloomberg

Hong Kong: severe tropical storm Pabuk (part 2)

Tropical depression Pabuk over and done with? Not any more. Things have changed. Tropical storm Pabuk is heading back this way:

At 2 p.m., the centre of tropical storm Pabuk was estimated to be about 40 kilometres west of Hong Kong Observatory (near 22.3 degrees north 113.8 degrees east) and is forecast to move northeast at about 8 kilometres per hour skirting Hong Kong on the west.
Pabuk is now very close to western part of Hong Kong. The Observatory will issue the no. 8 gale or storm signal shortly.
The rain bands of Pabuk are also bringing heavy rain with squalls to Hong Kong.
Winds at seas of southern Hong Kong were significantly higher than the general wind condition over the territory, reaching gale force. In the past hour, winds of about 94 km/h were recorded respectively. People in that area/those areas should exercise great care if they are out in the open.

Moreover,

The Hong Kong Observatory announces that the tropical cyclone warning signal number 8 is expected to be issued at or before 3:30 p.m. today (10 August 2007). Winds locally will strengthen further.
The government advises members of the public with long or difficult home journeys or having to return to outlying islands to begin their journeys now. The government is now making arrangements to release its employees accordingly.

Stay safe, whoever and wherever you are.

Update:
No.8
issued at
2:48pm

Eye | Land | View

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Street cleaner

Downgraded from a severe tropical storm to a mere tropical depression, Pabuk is heading west and skirting the western coast of Guangdong province. At 11am this morning Hong Kong Observatory lowered the No.3.

Hereabouts, the winds have died down. But there is the occasional bout of torrential rain. It's like the major downpours in any film by Kurosawa or that short story by Somerset Maugham. . . awesome. Forecast for the weekend? Rain, of course.

The local street cleaners are paid a pittance, work in all weathers, do a wonderful job, and for the heavy rains use the tools of their trade to rig up their own Darth Vader costumes. Respect.

Hong Kong: severe tropical storm Pabuk

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Late this afternoon, Hong Kong Observatory raised the No.1. The Obs says it will "consider issuing a No.3 during the overnight period". Weather by numbers? What those numbers mean and what the Obs says we should do: Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals