On Saturday morning, Hong Kong issued its second black rainstorm warning of the year, just days after the first one was raised on Tuesday. The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded the black signal to red, and then to amber by 12.30am, within less than an hour. Some parts of the city continued to deal with flash flooding as the weather remained unstable.
The forecaster said intense thundery showers associated with an active southwest monsoon were affecting the Pearl River Delta region. “Please continue to exercise due care. People who have to travel should carefully consider weather and road conditions and take necessary precautions,” the Observatory said while issuing the amber signal, as quoted by SCMP.
Flooding Reported Across City
The Drainage Services Department confirmed four cases of flooding as of 11.15am. These took place at North Lantau Highway, Tuen Mun Road, Tai Mong Tsai Road in Sai Kung, and the Northwest Tsing Yi Interchange. The authorities said they had finished handling flooding at Lantau and Sai Kung but were still working on the other two sites.
Photos shared online showed severe flooding at Tai Mong Tsai Road, with muddy water covering the area and vehicles keeping to one side to avoid deeper sections.
Authorities had earlier deployed water pumps and workers to Chai Wan Road Roundabout as a precaution, since it was one of the flooded locations during Tuesday’s heavy rain.
Schools, Services Adjust Operations
In response to the unstable weather, the Education Bureau announced that all afternoon school classes would be suspended. It added that schools already in session should continue until normal hours and only release students once it was safe.
The Social Welfare Department confirmed that its care centres and service units would remain open as per their standard schedules. The Home Affairs Department also said it would open temporary shelters for those affected by the rain.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said all gazetted beaches under its management would be closed temporarily. “Members of the public should stay away from the shoreline during inclement weather and should not conduct any water sports activities on beaches to avoid causing danger to themselves and rescue personnel,” a department spokesperson said. Those failing to follow instructions may face fines of up to HK$2,000 or 14 days in jail.
Travel, Rainfall Updates
The MTR Corporation said it had earlier closed exit A1 at Choi Hung station, exit B3 at Wong Tai Sin, and exit A2 at Sham Shui Po as flood prevention measures. In a later update, it said all exits were now open.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department asked the public to avoid visiting country parks due to the risk of landslides and flash floods.
According to the Observatory, more than 30mm of rain was recorded on Saturday morning across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon East, Sai Kung, and Lamma Island. “Residents who are likely to be affected are advised to take necessary precautions to avoid possible flood damage,” it said.
The weather is expected to remain unstable in the next few days, with heavy showers and thunderstorms forecast. The Observatory said conditions would likely improve gradually by the middle to later parts of the coming week.
Earlier in the week, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki defended the city’s extreme weather response after criticism from residents. He said Hong Kong had a “holistic and effective” mechanism to handle such events.
