The Hong Kong Observatory may upgrade the No 1 standby signal currently in force to a No 3 alert between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday as Typhoon Yagi continues to edge closer to the city.
“According to the present forecast track, Yagi will still maintain a distance of more than 400km [249 miles] from Hong Kong this morning,” the weather forecaster said.
The Observatory said severe tropical storm Yagi had already intensified into a typhoon.
Yagi was estimated to be about 520km southeast of Hong Kong at 9am and was forecast to move west or west-northwest at about 10km/h (6.2mph) across the northern part of the South China Sea and gradually intensify.
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The forecaster said it would consider raising the higher signal between 6pm and 9pm as local winds are expected to strengthen gradually Wednesday night.
“There will be swells. Members of the public should stay away from the shoreline and not engage in water sports,” it said.
Under the influence of Yagi, the weather over the coast of Guangdong will deteriorate in the latter part of this week, according to the forecast. It will be windy with heavy squally showers.
Yagi means goat in Japanese. It is also the Japanese name of constellation Capricornus