5 to 8 typhoons expected to skirt past Hong Kong this year

Observatory director Chan Pak-wai also predicts longer-than-usual typhoon season that could continue well into November

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Hong Kong’s coming typhoon season could continue into November. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 5:18pm, 18 Mar 2025Updated: 10:11pm, 18 Mar 2025

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Hong Kong is likely to contend with five to eight typhoons skirting past the city throughout the year, the weather forecaster has said, warning that the proportion of strong storms will be relatively higher because of global warming.

“This year, the tropical cyclone season in Hong Kong is expected to start in June or earlier and cease in October or later,” Observatory director Chan Pak-wai said on Tuesday at a press conference on this year’s weather outlook.

“There are likely to be five to eight tropical cyclones coming within 500km [310 miles] of Hong Kong during the year, which is normal to above normal.”

Chan also said the city could see more strong storms due to the warming of seawater influenced by changes in atmospheric circulation.

“In our region, which is the Northwest Pacific … the general idea is that the total number of typhoons affecting this region will remain more or less the same, but the proportion of stronger typhoons will be relatively higher,” he said.