5 to 8 typhoons expected to skirt past Hong Kong this year

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Hong Kong is likely to contend with five to eight tropical cyclones skirting near the city throughout the year, the local forecaster has said, adding that the coming typhoon season may extend past October.

“This year, the tropical cyclone season in Hong Kong is expected to start in June or earlier and cease in October or later,” Director of the Observatory Chan Pak-wai said at a press conference on this year’s weather outlook.

“There is likely to be five to eight tropical cyclones coming within 500km [310 miles] of Hong Kong during the year, which is normal to above normal.”

The typhoon season could continue well into November, similar to last year, but for different reasons, he said.

Chan explained that the 2024 typhoon season had been prolonged by the winding down of the El Niño global climate phenomenon, a trend that aligned with the Observatory’s predictions.