Hong Kong Observatory warns of possible typhoon on Sunday
- Prediction model consulted by forecaster suggests two convective cloud clusters in region may create low-pressure area, then form tropical cyclone
The Hong Kong Observatory has warned that a typhoon may form on Sunday, while also predicting very hot and unstable weather for next week.
The Observatory said one computer prediction model being consulted showed two convective cloud clusters near the Philippines could form a low-pressure area and then develop into a tropical cyclone close to the city as soon as Sunday morning.
Satellite images currently placed the two prominent convective cloud clusters to the east of the Southeast Asian country, it said.
The forecaster added that a subtropical ridge of high-pressure, which had brought persistently hot weather to the city over the past two weeks, would also move westwards towards Hong Kong early next week.
While the Observatory noted recent prediction models lacked a consensus on the expected intensity of the lower-pressure area, a prediction from Guangdong Meteorological Bureau suggested it could develop into a typhoon.
Local temperatures over the weekend were expected to hover between 29 and 34 degrees Celsius (84.2 and 93.2 Fahrenheit) with a low chance of rain and fresh offshore winds, the forecaster said.
Another broad low-pressure trough is also expected to bring more showers near the coast of Guangdong from middle to late next week, with a US prediction forecasting a “relatively strong tropical cyclone” could form in the South China Sea.
“A low-pressure area may form within the trough, with the potential to develop into a tropical cyclone,” the Observatory said, while noting “considerable divergence” in the prediction models.
Chan Pak-wai, director of the forecaster, said earlier this year that Hong Kong in 2024 was likely to see more typhoons than normal due to climate change.
The forecaster expected five to eight typhoons to approach within 500km (311 miles) of the city this year. The prediction at the time suggested the tropical storm season could start as early as June and might continue until October or later.
