Hong Kong issues amber warning as thunderstorms and flooding threaten

The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Sunday evening, forecasting squally thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain across the city. The warning was issued at 8.20pm and was expected to remain in force until 10pm, according to the Observatory. A spokesman said a few squally thunderstorms were expected over Hong Kong and that showers could be heavy at times during the evening.

The forecaster also warned of intense gusts reaching 70km/h, or about 43mph. It said flooding could occur in low-lying and poorly drained areas, while heavy rain might produce flash floods. The amber rainstorm signal indicates that rainfall exceeding 30mm in an hour has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong.

Residents and people travelling through areas vulnerable to flooding were therefore warned of potentially hazardous conditions. The Observatory attributed the unsettled weather to a cold front moving gradually across the coast of Guangdong. The system was bringing showers and squally thunderstorms to the region, the spokesman said.

The forecast for Monday was for cloudy conditions with occasional showers. The supplied information did not indicate whether the warning would be extended beyond Sunday night or provide details of any reported damage. The Observatory’s warning covered the possibility of both strong winds and intense rainfall, highlighting separate risks from the storm activity.

It advised through the alert that areas with poor drainage could be particularly affected as heavy showers moved across the city.