Tropical Cyclone Usagi approaches Hong Kong but threat ‘not high’, forecaster says

Tropical Cyclone Usagi has entered within 800km (497 miles) of Hong Kong but is unlikely to pose a direct threat, the weather forecaster has said.

The Hong Kong Observatory said on Friday Usagi was expected to maintain a distance of more than 500km from the city, noting the “likelihood of direct threat to the city is not high”.

The cyclone would then turn northeast towards Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and weaken gradually, it added.

At 8am, Usagi was centred about 280km south of Gaoxiong. It is forecast to move towards southern Taiwan at about 14km/h (9mph) across the vicinity of Luzon Strait.

Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Man-yi was about 1,280km east-southeast of Manila.