Hong Kong to consider issuing No 1 typhoon warning signal on Thursday night

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Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has said it will consider issuing the No 1 typhoon warning signal on Thursday night, adding the city is expected to experience scattered thunderstorms the next day.

The Hong Kong Observatory said a broad area of low pressure was consolidating and expected to gradually develop into a tropical cyclone. It would be closest to Hong Kong around noon on Friday.

“It is expected to enter within 800km [497 miles] of Hong Kong later [on Thursday], and the Observatory will consider issuing the No 1 typhoon signal tonight,” the Observatory said.

It also said the combined effect of the cyclone and a ridge of high pressure over southeastern China would bring winds to the coast of southern China on Friday.

It noted that local winds would occasionally be strong offshore and on high ground, accompanied by swells.