The SUN HK : T10 up as Super Typhoon Saola moves closer to HK (Update)

01 September 2023

Images taken by the Govt Flying Service show Saola has a double eyewall, suggesting super strength

The Observatory raised the T10 signal at about 8:15pm today, less than tw hours after it raised the t9 signal at 6:40pm, as Super Typhoon Saola moved to within six hours away from taking a direct hit on Hong Kong.

Gale-force winds and heavy rains have intensified within the 16 hours that T8 was hoisted, forcing schools and businesses to close down.

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According to the present forecast, Saola is on track to come closest to the territory around midnight, skirting to within 40 kilometres south of the Hong Kong Observatory.

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Forecasters warned areas that were previously sheltered from the strong winds may become exposed in the next few hours, and water levels will rise rapidly in low-lying areas due to a storm surge.

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They say water levels in some areas may even reach historic highs.

The areas that are expected to be worst hit are Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok, and Sai Kung where flood waters could reach more than a meter high.

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"The water level in the eastern coastal waters of the territory will increase from around 9pm tonight. Among which, the water level at Tolo Harbour will reach a high water level of around six metres above chart datum near midnight, which is about four metres higher than the normal tide level,” said the Observatory.

Water levels in other coastal areas are also expected to rise significantly starting at around 6am tomorrow, Saturday. These include those around Victoria Harbour, where the water levels could rise 3 meters higher than the normal tide level, Tai O where the swell will go up by around 3.5 meters, and Lei Yue Mun where it will reach 1.5 meters higher.

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Members of the public are advised to remain indoors and take all necessary precautions like staying away from electric cables and glass windows and doors because they could shatter from the wind pressure, or if hit by a flying object.

The Education Bureau also said all announced that all schools will remain suspended on Saturday to ensure students' safety.

Over at the Hong Kong International Airport, hundreds of stranded passengers hunkered for the night, as all flights going in and out of the city were cancelled by mid-afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Government Flying Service (GFS) collected images that experts said indicated that Saola is very powerful and intense storm.

The storm’s double eyewall is said to be very tightly formed as to form an almost complete ring, signifying its powerful strength.