“Strong Thunderstorm Hits Hong Kong: Red Rainstorm and Fallen Trees Reported”

Affected by the strong thunderstorm belt associated with the trough of low pressure, there were squally thunderstorms in many areas of Hong Kong yesterday. The Observatory even issued the first red rainstorm warning this year. The rainfall exceeded 60 millimeters. During the period, the government received 4 reports of tree collapse, but fortunately there were no casualties. Due to bad weather, many outdoor activities had to be suspended, including the “Happy Hong Kong” food market held in Sha Tin Park, which was once closed for about 2 hours. The Observatory predicts that there will be more frequent showers and thunderstorms at the beginning of today, and the rain will weaken during the day. The weather will gradually become clearer and cooler in the next one or two days.

The weather in many districts of Hong Kong turned worse near noon yesterday, and the sea surface of Victoria Harbor was hazy. The Observatory first issued a yellow rainstorm warning at 12:10 yesterday, and then issued a special reminder that there will be violent gusts. Lau Fau Shan once recorded a violent gust of about 100 kilometers per hour. In urban areas, even if citizens bring umbrellas, they will inevitably get wet under strong winds, making them very embarrassed. At 1:35 p.m., the first red rainstorm warning of the year was changed, and the yellow rainstorm warning was issued after about an hour, and then canceled at 3:15 p.m. Li Shuming, senior scientific director of the Observatory, said that the rainfall in many areas yesterday exceeded 40 millimeters in the afternoon, and the northern New Territories and Lantau Island even recorded more than 60 millimeters of rainfall.

The government received 4 reports of fallen trees and other signs fell

Under the rainstorm warning, many places in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories were swayed by wind and rain. According to the government, as of 6:00 last night, a total of 4 reports of fallen trees were received. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Among them, at 12:38 p.m., on Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, towards Tai Mei Tuk, near Fung Yuen Road, a large tree collapsed due to torrential rain and strong wind, and some traffic lanes were blocked. Firefighters and police officers arrived field cleanup. At about 1:00 p.m., a tree collapsed on the opposite side of Heng Cheong Building, Fu Heng Estate, Tai Po. District Councilor Ho Wai Lam said that he and his staff had cleared the fallen tree that was pressing on the platform and was more dangerous to the pedestrian path. In addition, at around 2:00 p.m., when a tourist bus carrying schoolchildren drove to the top of the hill opposite the Chief Secretary’s Mansion on Barker Road, a 10-foot-tall tree collapsed and crossed two traffic lanes. Firefighters arrived at the scene and sawed off the tree branches with chainsaws and other tools and moved them to the side of the road. In addition to the fallen tree, a 1.5m x 0.6m pawnshop signboard at No. 3 Shukuk Street, North Point suddenly fell in the afternoon. No passerby was injured. The police listed it as “falling object from height”.

Affected by the bad weather, the government announced that the “Happy Hong Kong” Sha Tin Food Market was temporarily closed at about 1:00 p.m.; it was not reopened until 3:00 p.m. when all rainstorm warnings were cancelled. Leave early. The Hong Kong Island Regional Emergency Disaster Prevention Carnival held at Quarry Bay Park Phase 1 also ended early. The Ngong Ping cable car was also temporarily suspended due to weather problems, and the cable car service was not resumed until 5:42 pm.

The Observatory predicts that there will be more frequent showers and thunderstorms at the beginning of today, and then the rain will gradually weaken. In the next one or two days, it will be affected by an easterly airstream with stronger winds, cooler weather and gradually clearer sky. It is expected to see sunshine again this Wednesday, but there will be showers again this weekend. Li Shuming reminded that in summer, due to the influence of low-pressure troughs, it will rain heavily from time to time, and citizens should pay attention to the weather forecast for outdoor activities.

Originally published on AM730