We’ve just come off the tail end of typhoon Mitag, and already another tropical cyclone is sweeping into Hong Kong – and this time it’s going to be a super typhoon. Here’s your breakdown of the weather conditions over the next couple of days.
Where is Super Typhoon Ragasa now?
As of 12 noon today, Ragasa is centred approximately 550km north-northeast of Manila. According to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Super Typhoon Ragasa will enter the northern part of the South China Sea today, September 22. Considering its extensive circulation and high speed of movement, this means Ragasa ‘poses a considerable threat’ to the Guangdong coast and Hong Kong. The Standby Signal No. 1 has been raised at 12.20pm today in preparation.
When will the T8 signal be hoisted?
As Ragasa edges closer, winds in Hong Kong will strengthen tomorrow and temperatures will remain very hot initially in the day, but then the weather will deteriorate rapidly. The HKO will issue the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 9.40pm tonight, September 22.
They will then consider raising the warning to the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 between 1pm and 4pm tomorrow, September 23. The weather will be persistently adverse on Wednesday, September 24, with gale to storm force winds expected, while winds offshore as well as on high ground may reach hurricane force.
How bad is Super Typhoon Ragasa going to be?
According to the mainland Chinese weather watchdogs, Ragasa is the strongest typhoon of this year within the western Pacific. HKO predicts that Ragasa is going to be a Super Typhoon, which is the strongest classification there is. This also means that Ragasa is set to be the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with maximum sustained winds of 220km per hour near the centre of the storm predicted by Tuesday, September 23. If Ragasa does end up being that strong, it would break the record currently held by Super Typhoon Saola in 2023, which had maximum sustained wind speeds of 210km per hour. There’s a distinct possibility that the T10 signal will be hoisted on Wednesday.
When Ragasa is at its closest to Hong Kong, we can expect the weather to be adverse with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms throughout the region. Wednesday and Thursday are going to be very rainy days, and the seas will be high with swells. With significant storm surges expected, the HKO has warned that the sea level over coastal areas could be similar to that of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018 – here’s a refresher if you forgot the devastation wreaked by those typhoons.
When will Super Typhoon Ragasa leave Hong Kong?
Despite their might, typhoons thankfully never last that long. There will be heavy showers on Thursday, but winds will eventually weaken as Ragasa departs, and the weather will improve gradually towards the latter part of this week.
Does that mean there will be no school and work on Wednesday because of Ragasa?
Keep a weather eye on the news and the HKO! If a T8 or Black Rain signal has been hoisted in the morning, then it’s more than likely that schools and classes will be cancelled, and workers will not have to go into the office.
Hong Kong Jockey Club has already announced they’re cancelling the Wednesday races this week, and the Hong Kong International Airport is considering closing for 36 hours due to Ragasa, so we’re going to go out on a limb and say that you can most likely stay in your pyjamas on Wednesday.
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