More tropical cyclones expected to hit this year

HONG KONG: Five to eight tropical cyclones are forecast to affect Hong Kong this year, slightly above normal, Hong Kong Observatory director Shun Chi-ming said.

Shun said it expected the typhoon season to start in June or earlier, considering the influence of La Nina during spring this year.

As the rainy season approaches, he reminded people of the possible impacts from thunderstorms, especially strong wind gusts. Normal to below normal rainfall is expected this year.

Shun said the public considered about 80% of the observatory’s weather forecasts to be accurate by the public, the highest since 2006.

The observatory also made progress in seasonal forecasts with the colder than normal weather correctly predicted for the past winter.

“Today onwards, when a change in weather is expected in its local weather forecasts – for example, when the weather will change from fine to rainy – the Observatory will adopt two weather icons instead of one to highlight the weather change,” he said.

The observatory will explore using a similar approach in providing more detailed forecast for the first few days of the seven-day forecast.