Tropical storm Ewiniar opens typhoon season

Torrential rains brought flooding in Hong Kong on Thursday as tropical storm Ewiniar neared, leading the Hong Kong Observatory to keep Strong Wind Signal No 3 hoisted all day.

Ewiniar brought the city its first strong wind signal for the year.

The Observatory forecast that Ewiniar — moving about 280 kilometers west-southwest of Hong Kong as of 6 pm on Thursday — would make landfall over the western coast of Guangdong province on Thursday night and Friday morning.

The Observatory said there was only a small possibility typhoon signal No 8 would be raised on Thursday evening.

Ewiniar is bringing gusts which will reach 70 km per hour or more and heavy rainfall.

The Observatory issued a special announcement on flooding in the northern New Territories at 6.50 am on Thursday. More than 100 millimeters of rainfall had recorded in the area in the past few hours.

Floods were also reported in Po Kak Tsai village in Fanling, Tai Po in the New Territories and Diamond Hill in Kowloon.

The Observatory also issued a thunderstorm and landslip warning on Thursday because of heavy rain and squalls.

The Education Bureau announced that classes of kindergartens and schools for children with special educational needs were suspended on Thursday.

People who live in low-lying areas are advised to take precautions against flooding. Beach-goers are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not engage in water sports.

The Observatory also advised drivers using highways and flyovers to be vigilant about powerful wind gusts.

The typhoon struck after the city experienced a recordbreaking heat wave. Temperatures exceeded 33 C for more than 10 consecutive days late last month.

The heat dried up the city’s Lau Shui Heung Reservoir and also wetlands in Tai Sang Wai, the New Territories.

People who live in low-lying areas should take precautions against flooding. Beach-goers should stay away from the shoreline.” Hong Kong Observatory