Thunder and downpours in Hong Kong as Observatory issues first-ever February rainstorm warning

Hong Kong on Tuesday woke to thunder and downpours heavy enough to warrant the first rainstorm alert of 2019 – the second earliest ever issued in a calendar year.

The Observatory issued the amber rainstorm warning signal at 9am, indicating rainfall exceeding 30mm per hour. It was cancelled at 10.10am.

“There will be flooding in some low lying and poorly drained areas,” the Observatory said. “People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risk.”

It is the first time any rainstorm warning has been issued in February since the current three-level rainstorm warning system was adopted in 1998.

According to Observatory figures, the earliest amber rainstorm signal ever issued was in January 2016.