Hong Kong hit by another black rainstorm, floods as Podul sweeps past
Forecaster issues fifth black rainstorm warning of the year and the fourth in August
Hong Kong was hit by “exceptionally severe” downpours and flooding in several areas on Thursday, with the Observatory issuing the highest-level black rainstorm warning and authorities cancelling classes and some flights.
The forecaster downgraded the black rainstorm signal it had raised at 7.50am to red at 11.10am and then to amber, the lowest level in the three-tier system, at 12.10pm, before cancelling it at 3.55pm.
A No 1 typhoon signal that had been in effect was also cancelled at 12.20pm as Tropical Storm Podul moved towards the central part of mainland China and weakened gradually.
“There is an exceptionally severe rainstorm in Central and Western district, and severe rainstorms in Chek Lap Kok of Islands district, Kwai Tsing and Tuen Mun districts,” the Observatory warned in the morning, adding that hourly rainfall was expected to exceed or had exceeded 100mm.
It was the fifth black rainstorm warning of the year and the fourth in August.