Hong Kong issues hail, rainstorm warnings as city hit by downpours

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Hong Kong could be hit by hail in the coming hours, the Observatory said on Friday, as it issued the red rainstorm warning.

The forecaster said at 6.30pm that hail could affect Hong Kong shortly. It issued the amber rainstorm alert at 7.10pm before upgrading it to the red warning at 7.40pm.

The red warning, the middle level in a three-tier system, signifies that heavy rain exceeding 50mm in an hour has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong and is likely to continue.

A thunderstorm warning issued at 1.40pm was also extended until 9.30pm.

Showers and thunderstorms triggered by high temperatures were also affecting Hong Kong, it said.