Hong Kong issues amber rainstorm alert for 2 hours as downpours dampen Mid-Autumn Festival

The Hong Kong Observatory raised the amber rainstorm warning for two hours on Tuesday evening, with heavy downpours cutting short Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for some.

The alert, in force between 9.50pm and 11.50pm, signifies that heavy rain exceeding 30mm (1.2 inches) in an hour has fallen or is expected to fall generally over the city and is likely to continue.

The Observatory had earlier warned that isolated thunderstorms could affect the plans of Hongkongers hoping to go moon-gazing for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Thousands of spectators who had gathered on Tuesday evening to watch a spectacular fire dragon dance in Causeway Bay and a drone show over the Wan Chai harbourfront were not left disappointed.