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Eric Jiang

Hong Kong’s weather forecaster cancelled its rainstorm warnings on Thursday, following spells of heavy rain that led to the suspension of morning and whole-day schools, with afternoon classes allowed to proceed.
The Observatory issued the red signal – the middle level in a three-tier system – at 5.05am, and soon after also sent out a special landslip advisory for Po Toi Island due to heavy rain.
The forecaster downgraded the red alert to amber at 9.20am and then cancelled that one at 10.15am.
The Education Bureau announced that classes at all morning and whole-day schools were suspended. But afternoon classes proceeded as usual.
The Home Affairs Department opened temporary shelters for residents affected by the adverse weather.
The forecaster warned earlier in the morning that heavy rain could trigger flash floods, with flooding occurring or expected around watercourses.
“Residents living in close proximity to rivers should stay alert to weather and should consider evacuation if their homes may become flooded,” it said.




The weather throughout the rest of Thursday is forecast to be mostly cloudy, with heavy showers and squally thunderstorms.
The rain is expected to gradually ease off, while temperatures are likely to peak at about 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).
The forecaster also said that Tropical Cyclone Saudel would edge closer to the coast of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in mainland China on Thursday and Friday.
“Under the influence of its outer subsiding air, the weather will become very hot over southern China in the latter part of this week,” the Observatory said, warning that the high temperatures could trigger further showers.
Saudel is a name provided by the Federated States of Micronesia and refers to the guards of the legendary ruler of the country’s Pohnpei Island.
The Observatory predicted that the weather would remain unsettled over the next couple of days, with rainfall expected on Friday and Saturday.


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Rainy weather at the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Sam Tsang

Illustration: Davies Christian

Yung often seeks shelter at a nearby shopping centre as his flat in Kwai Tsing is too hot and stuffy when temperatures surge in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

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Anthony Cheung, vice-president of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, says the city’s existing design and building rules do not support building more cooling structures such as canopies and covered walkways. Photo: Dickson Lee

An AI-generated image of the Air Tree, a structure being developed to provide greenery and shade while using solar panels to power fans in public spaces. Photo: Ronald Lu and Partners/Behave

Climate scientists predict that the number of days in a year “repeatedly affected by heatwaves” in Hong Kong will jump from an annual average of 14 days in the 2010s to 101 in the 2040s. Photo: Karma Lo

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Hong Kong

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Observatory cancels amber rainstorm warning at 10.15am, about an hour after downgrading it from red


Observatory cancels amber rainstorm warning at 10.15am, about an hour after downgrading it from red.


Hong Kong cancels rainstorm warnings, afternoon school sessions go ahead

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Observatory cancels amber rainstorm warning at 10.15am, about an hour after downgrading it from red

Observatory cancels amber rainstorm warning at 10.15am, about an hour after downgrading it from red