Remember last week when we were all abuzz with our first Black Rainstorm alert of the year? We clearly spoke too soon, because over the last few days Hong Kong has been pelted hard with rain, with the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issuing our fourth Black Rainstorm Warning Signal in a week today.
The city went to bed last night amidst a Black Rainstorm, which was hoisted at 11.45pm on August 4 and ended at 2.10am on August 5, but by 5.50am this morning it had worsened into the highest-level rainstorm warning again, which is still in force at the time of publication and will likely remain in place until at least 3pm, according to the HKO.
While intense thundery showers associated with an active southwest monsoon and upper-air disturbances continue to affect Hong Kong, the public is warned that there will be violent gusts, the possibility of flash floods, road flooding, and traffic congestions around the city.
What is a Black Rainstorm?
A Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued when heavy rain exceeding 70 ml in an hour is falling or is expected to fall over the territories. This time, recorded rainfall over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the Islands district has exceeded 150 ml over the past couple of hours.
How has Hong Kong been affected?
32 passengers on a double-decker Citybus and a minibus in Tseung Kwan O had to be rescued by police officers after both vehicles broke down in waters two feet deep on Monday night. Two cases of flooding in Ma On Shan and Tso Wo Hang have been reported, and an open-air carpark in Tseung Kwan O has had waters rising to more than halfway up the park vehicles.
Castle Peak Road near Kwai Chung is also experiencing flooding, with several lanes closed off. The entirety of the Garden Road flyover near the Bank of China Tower, as well as all lanes on Lung Cheung Road near Ngau Chi Wan Village leading towards Kwun Tong have also been closed.
Is there any transport running?
Due to severe floodings or landslides, KMB routes 51, 91, 91M, 92, 94 and HK1 have been suspended, with a number of other routes diverted. Citybus routes are operating as usual, but journey times may be delayed due to road conditions. Similarly, all MTR lines are operating normally, but it would be prudent to expect some delays, especially if the line has overground sections.
Are offices, schools, and medical services closed?
In general, if a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is issued early enough in the morning, then Hongkongers don’t have to physically go in to work or school. Since the Black Rainstorm began in the early hours of this morning, students would not have been expected to attend classes. All-day schools and morning classes have been suspended for today, while evening school classes will proceed as usual if it is not a Red or Black Rainstorm any more by 5pm.
A&E services at Queen Mary Hospital have been affected by serious flooding in the area, and ambulances originally bound for Queen Mary have been diverted to Ruttonjee Hospital instead. According to the Department of Health, all clinics, except for those serving methadone, will be closed for now. Services will resume if the Black Rainstorm signal is cancelled two hours or more before the clinics’ normal closing times.
What’s the weather for the rest of the week?
According to the HKO, the weather will remain unsettled tomorrow on August 6, with heavy showers. These should ease off gradually on Thursday, August 7, followed by very hot weather in the following days – the thermostat is forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius from Friday until next Tuesday.
Keep an eye on the weather at the HKO website.
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