Hong Kong’s Sai Kung and Sha Tin districts record most intense rainfall citywide amid 5-hour amber rainstorm signal
- Forecaster issues amber warning on Friday, signalling more than 30mm of rain has fallen over Hong Kong in an hour
- ‘People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risks posed by the heavy rain and flooding,’ it adds
Hong Kong’s Sai Kung and Sha Tin districts recorded the most intense rainfall citywide on Friday morning, while the forecaster issued an amber rainstorm signal for five hours.
An advisory notice at 12.15pm warned that rain was particularly heavy in those two districts and could cause serious flooding.
Hong Kong told to brace for heavy showers, squally thunderstorms in coming days
The amber rainstorm warning signal was issued at 8.35am, and remained in force for about five hours before it was cancelled at 1.45pm.
“Although the rainstorm warning has been cancelled, people should remain alert to the danger that may be brought about by river flooding,” the forecaster warned.
The thunderstorm alert lasted until noon, with the forecaster earlier warning that violent gusts and possible hail could affect the city.
“People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risks posed by the heavy rain and flooding,” it said.
Hailstones are large ice pellets formed in severe thunderstorms.
Residents can also expect heavy showers and squally thunderstorms over the weekend, as a trough of low pressure sweeps over southern China.
But the forecaster said the weather would briefly improve on Monday before becoming unsettled again in the following days.
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Hong Kong has experienced a recent spate of unstable weather and flooding in certain parts of the city, with the Observatory issuing five amber rainstorm warnings over the past seven days.
Hailstorms were relatively rare in Hong Kong and occurred about once every one or two years, the forecaster said.
The city has recorded 11 days with hail between January 2000 and August 2020.
The Observatory warned of a possible hailstorm on Wednesday but the conditions never materialised.
Temperatures for the coming nine days are expected to range between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius (75.2 and 86 Fahrenheit).
Additional reporting by Lilian Cheng
